A country has a very large working-age share, yet its per capita income is low. Which conclusion is most appropriate?

Correct answer: A favourable age structure does not guarantee economic prosperity

The governing concept is that age structure creates an opportunity, not an automatic economic outcome. A large working-age share may reduce the relative dependency burden and provide a potential demographic dividend, but people must have education, skills, good health, productive employment, capital and supportive institutions. If many working-age people are unemployed, underemployed or engaged in low-productivity work, the country can still have low per capita income. Option A is therefore correct. Option B is too absolute because numbers alone do not generate prosperity. Option C ignores the possible influence of age structure, while option D falsely attributes all low income to an elderly population. Economic conditions determine whether demographic potential becomes actual income.