Demography Flashcards
3 overall population changes since 1900 (UK)
1901 - 38.3 million
1951 - 50 million
2021 - 67 million
reasons for the post - war baby boom
single parent families became nuclear again
no contraception
more people wanted to have children - no war -promise of a new country
what percentage of women are childless at 45 years old
20%
what was the fertility rate at the end of the 20th century (for women of child bearing age)
1.7
what is the current trend for birth rates
it is declining
what was the fertility rate in 2021
1.55
how does the change in womens position explain the change in birth and fertility rates
increasing legal equality with men
educational opportunities
more women in paid employment
access to abortion and contraception
easier access to divorce
Sarah Harper (2012) - changes in birth and fertility rates
education of women is the most important reason for the long term fall in birth and fertility rates
led to a change in mindset amongst women - plan families, delay childbirth, pursuing a career first
once a pattern of low fertility lasts for more than one generation, cultural norms about family size change
why is the age of first time parenthood increasing
careers
travelling
economics
property
stable partner
stable income
savings
lifestyle
individuality
cost of living
reasons for the decline in infant mortality rate
better sanitation, access to healthcare and the midwifery profession benefited mothers and their children
technology - baby monitors
what was infant mortality like in 1900
15% of babies died in their first year
parents needed to replace children that died (Harper)
children are now an economic liability - why has this caused a decrease in birth and fertility rate
no longer an economic asset - parents have less children and give them a better quality childhood
norms about what children can expect from their parents has changed
parents are now less able and less willing to have large families
how has the decline in birth and fertility rates affected the dependency ratio?
if there is a small working population and large older population, it will be difficult for those working to economically and socially provide for the elderly
dependency ratio
relationship between the size of the working population and the dependent population
or
the relationship between those in paid employment and those mainly in receipt of pensions, and in some cases benefits
impact of an ageing population of public services and social policy
use services (e.g. NHS) more - drain on underfunded services -> bed blocking
increased expenditure on services - transport, free bus passes
the sandwich generation - more pressure of women
big increase in benefits being paid to older groups such as state pension, Independent Living Allowance (ILA)
