Fertility rates in nearly all well-off countries have already fallen below 2.1 babies per woman, the rate at which a population remains stable.

There may be much to learn from those from countries less well-off than ours, but in the end solutions must come from ourselves and our experiences.

Following Germany's lead, European governments seem to have reached a consensus that only the already well-off capitalist countries of the European Free Trade Association that want to join the 12-nation community can be admitted quickly.

All are relatively well-off countries that are expected to be net contributors.

They now number a million, a mostly poor community in an otherwise fairly well-off country of 7.8 million.

Which well-off European country do these statistics describe?

But Africa's history shows that nothing can be taken for granted, and that seemingly well-off countries can be undermined by their neighbors' troubles.

Cuba recovered from the devastation of war to become a well-off country, with the third largest middle class in the hemisphere.

I hope you will forgive me when I recall the enormous benefits that the richer and well-off countries have derived from the international trading system.

I think that helping to provide less well-off countries with human and material resources capable of facing up to future crises is almost as important as confronting emergencies that occur.