Demographic Trends

Question 1

What is meant by demography?

Answer 1

The study of population

Includes looking t changes to: birth/ death rates, life expectancy etc.

Question 2

Define birth rate

Answer 2

The number of live births per 1,000 of the population per year

Question 3

Define total fertility rate

Answer 3

The average number of children 1 woman will have between the ages of 15-44

Question 4

What is the average total fertility rate?

Answer 4

1.9

Question 5

Define death rate

Answer 5

The number of deaths per 1,000 of the population per year

Question 6

Define infant mortality rate (IMR)

Answer 6

The number f children dying before their 1st birthday per 1,000 live births per year

Question 7

What is the dependency ratio?

Answer 7

The proportion of dependents per 100 working-age population

Question 8

Define life expectancy

Answer 8

The average number of years that a person can be expected to live

Question 9

Define migration

Answer 9

Moving to another country for a period of at least a year

Question 10

Define immigration

Answer 10

Entering another country for a period of at least a year, so that it becomes your usual place of residence

Question 11

Define emigration

Answer 11

Leaving your usual country of residence for at least a year, to live in another country

Question 12

Define net migration

Answer 12

The difference between the no. of immigrants coming into a country + the no. of emigrants leaving a country in a year

Question 13

Natural change

Answer 13

Changes in the size of the population due to changes in the no. of births + deaths, including migration

Question 14

Define globalisation

Answer 14

The way in which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, causing time and space to seem compressed

Question 15

What is an ageing population?

Answer 15

When people are living longer so the average age of the population is increasing

Question 16

What is happening to the BR in the UK?

What was it in 1901 compared to 2012?

Answer 16

BR = decreasing

29 vs 12.2

Question 17

What is happening to the TFR in the UK?

What was it in 1901 compared to 2012?

Answer 17

TFR = decreasing

3.5 vs 1.9

Question 18

What is happening to the DR in the UK?

What was it in 1901 compared to 2012?

Answer 18

DR = decreasing

18.4 vs 9.3

Question 19

What is happening to the IMR in the UK?

What was it in 1901 compared to 2012?

Answer 19

IMR = decreasing

142 vs 4

Question 20

What is happening to the life expectancy in the UK?

What was it in 1901 compared to 2012?

Answer 20

Life expectancy = increasing

45 vs 80

Question 21

What is happening to the dependency ratio in the UK?

What was it in 1901 compared to 2012?

Answer 21

Dependency ratio = increasing

34 vs 53

Question 22

Give 4 causes of decreasing BR + fertility rates since 1900

Answer 22

1. Changes in gender roles (W delay, contraception, abortion, EPA 1970, education)
2. Falling IMR (higher living standards, health care etc)
3. Increased cost of child-rearing (school = extended, more child-centred - have less to give them the best)
4. Changing attitudes (other family types more accepted, Beck + Gernsheim: individualisation)

Question 23

Describes Beck + Gernscheim’s process of individualisation

Answer 23

People have become more concerned with their own needs

No longer have to follow traditional norms but can make their on decisions e.g about marriage + having children

Question 24

How could you explain the slight increase in BR recently?

2

Answer 24

1. Migration patterns (people moving into UK)
   Migrants tend to be young adults (child-bearing age) + average migrant families = bigger than non-migrants
2. Older W having children through reproductive technology e.g. IVF

Question 25

Give 3 consequences of the decrees in fertility + BR

Answer 25

1. increased dependency ratio - less children, less ppl of working age in next generation, greater no. of dependant ppl :( 2. Strain on public services - redundancies could be made; less demand e.g. in schools/ hospitals :( 3. Further change sin GR - W have more time for careers, may lead to equality? :)

Question 26

Give 4 causes of the decrease in DR + the increase in life expectancy

Answer 26

1. The Beverage Report - greater G help for elderly/sick e.g. NHS, welfare benefits, pensions, care homes etc. 2. Medical advances - antibiotics, vaccinations (TB/ measles), operations 3. Improved hygiene + nutrition - rapid decline in absolute poverty in 20th cent (McKeown) 4. Improved maternity care - NHS, decline in IMR, helped lower DR overall

Question 27

What does McKeown argue is the man cause for the decrease in DR + increase in life expectancy?

Answer 27

Improved nutrition + living standards Better nutrition helps increase better resistance to infectious diseases BUT fails to explain why W live longer than M, even though they received less food

Question 28

Give 5 consequences of the decrease in DR + increase in life expectancy

Answer 28

1. Increased dependancy ratio - ageing pop, 'pension timebomb' 2. Increased family diversity - more beanpole/ lone/ widowed 3. Increased strain to care for elderly - G no longer afford to provide care homes, burden usually falls on W 4. Increased role of Gparents - allows both parents to work, 'neo-conventional' 5. Increased opportunities for older people - ageing population results in longer more fulfilling retirement period, '+ve ageing' (Blaikie 1999)

Question 29

Describe the term 'pension timebomb'

Answer 29

Due to the ageing population Around 1/2 welfare budget is already spent on pensions + elderly use NHS more: 50% of people in hospital + 60% of all prescribed drugs in 2013, even though over 65s make up 20% of population G: increased pension age to 68 by 2018

Question 30

What does Peter Townsend (1981) say about old age?

Answer 30

-ve attitudes towards the elderly in S are a resit of 'old age' being a socially constructed as a period of dependancy e.g. statutory retirement age which most people are expected to retire by

Question 31

What does Hirsch propose as a solution to the ageing population?

Answer 31

Argues that policy changes aren't enough to cope with ageing population NEED to change CULTURAL views towards ageing too + recognise it as a social construct e.g. need to move away from idea that people NEED to retire at 60-65

Question 32

Give 4 causes of increased migration

Answer 32

1. Increased international trade - greater opportunities to move 2. Increase in global media/ new tech - know more about the world, encouragement move to better area, tech diminishes distance, stay connected (Litwak -'modified extended fam) 3. Increased transport links - air travel, low-cost (easy jet), cheaper + easier to migrate 4. Political changes - creation of new international bodies (EU), fewer visa restrictions e. g. EU members can work/ live in any EU country without a visa

Question 33

Give 4 consequences of increased migration

Answer 33

1. More family diversity - African Caribbean (matrifocal) vs India (extended) 2. Increased population - lack of housing BUT more workers. Immigrant W have higher total fertility rate (2.2) 3. Strains public services (NHS/ Ed), currently shortage of midwives + p. school teachers 4. Lower average of population - immigrants = young adults, dependancy ratio not as high, can contribute (TAX) BUT more children (young dependants) = ££ for state e.g. free Ed

Question 34

What is the main demographic trend that has created greater ethnic/ family diversity?

Answer 34

Immigration

Question 35

What 2 ethnic groups have a higher proportion of lone parent families?

Answer 35

1. Black Caribbean | 2. Black African