A second measure would be

[Kontol]

Can you explain how "would" works in the following sentence?

There are several actions that governments could take to solve the problems described above. Firstly, a simple solution would be to increase the retirement age for working adults, perhaps from 65 to 70. Nowadays, people of this age tend to be healthy enough to continue a productive working life. A second measure would be for governments to encourage immigration in order to increase the number of working adults who pay taxes. Finally, money from national budgets will need to be taken from other areas and spent on vital healthcare, accommodation and transport facilities for the rising numbers of older citizens.

https://www.ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2013/01/ielts-writing-task-2-problemsolution-essay.html

 

[emsr2d2]

They're simply being presented as possibilities. Your first clue is the word "could" in the opening sentence.

There are several things they could do. The first would be XXX. The second would be YYY.
(If the government were to choose to do those things, those are the things they would be.)

Compare that with:
There are several things they can do. The first is XXX. The second is YYY.
There are several things they're going to do. The first is XXX. The second is YYY.

 

[Kontol]

They're simply being presented as possibilities. Your first clue is the word "could" in the opening sentence.

There are several things they could do. The first would be XXX. The second would be YYY.
(If the government were to choose to do those things, those are the things they would be.)

Well, I'm still unclear. Do you mean "would" means "possible" here?

There are several things they could do. The first is possible XXX. The second is possible YYY.

 

[emsr2d2]

Well, I'm still unclear. Do you mean "would" means "possible" here?

If I meant "would means possible", that's what I would have said. I didn't say that. I said the whole sentence expresses possibility - in the writer's opinion, there are two possible courses of action the government could take.

There are several things they could do. The first is possible XXX. The second is possible YYY.

Neither sentence in red is grammatically correct.

 

[jutfrank]

You're still asking about 'would'? I suppose that's fair enough, as it is a very difficult word.

In both of these cases, the idea is to propose hypothetical solutions to the problem.

 

[Kontol]

In both of these cases, the idea is to propose hypothetical solutions to the problem.

If I substitute "would" for "will" in the sentence, does it have the same meaning?

 

[5jj]

No. Will suggests certainty.