Ageing populations - France's Pronatal strategy

Question 1

What does Pro-natal mean?

Answer 1

Encouraging birth.

Question 2

What are the issues of an ageing population? (HEALTHCARE)

Answer 2

Demand for healthcare is increasing because there are more illnesses from the elderly because they are surviving much longer than they would have done previously.
Elderly people visit the GP more often and therefore more hospital appointments are used up for them. This reduces capacity for the rest of the population.

Question 3

What are the issues of an ageing population? (SOCIAL and ECONOMIC)

Answer 3

Elderly people need more services such as nursing homes, day-care centres, people to help them to care for themselves.
Therefore there are financial problems on the country, who will require more taxes from workers to fund this.
Individuals may also need to spend more time looking after family members.

Question 4

What are the issues of an ageing population? (PENSION CRISIS)

Answer 4

In wealthier countries, people expect to retire from work and have a pension for the rest of their lives.
Life expectancy is higher in developed countries than in developing countries.
Retirement age must rise to reduce having to pay large pensions from such an early age - this would bankrupt companies and even the country.
There are more elderly people and the proportion of working people is decreasing, taxes in return must increase to pay the pension bill.

Question 5

France’s solution to an ageing population…

Answer 5

Couples are given lots of incentives to have couples:
Either parent is given 3 years paid parental leave.
Full time schooling from age 3 paid by the government.
Day care for children younger than 3 is subsidised by the government.
The more children a women has, the earlier she will be allowed to retire on a full pension.
These measures will help France increase the number of economically active people in years to come.