demography Flashcards
Define birth rate.
The number of live births per year per 1000
Trends in birth rate?
A long-term decline in birth rate. However, there were 3 ‘baby booms’ after WW1, WW2 and during the 1960’s
Name 4 reasons for the decline in birth rate
Changes in women’s position- more job opportunities for women, change in attitude towards family life, more contraception
Fall in infant mortality rate- improved housing, sanitation, nutrition, child health etc
Children are an economic liability- Laws banning child labour coupled with the introduction of compulsory schooling has meant children remain economically dependent for longer
Child centredness- childhood is now socially constructed and important period of life, parents focus on quality not quantity, meaning they have fewer children but show more attention and resources on them
What are the impacts of a declining birth rate?
The dependency ratio increases - the relationship between the size of the working population and the non-working (dependent) population.
The working population’s earnings support the dependent population through tax.
Women are having fewer children because this reduces the ‘burden of dependency’.
Public services - fewer schools, child health services etc.
Define death rate
The number of deaths per 1000 per year.
What’s the trend in the death rate?
Declining, with the exception of fluctuations in WW1, WW2 and the 1918 flu epidemic.
What are the reasons for a decline in death rate?
Improved nutrition
Medical improvements (vaccinations, antibiotics, NHS)
Public health improvements (better housing, clean water, clean air)
Social change (decline in manual labour, greater knowledge of disease)
What are the reasons for an ageing population?
The average age in the UK is increasing because of:
Increased life expectancy
Low infant mortality rate
Declining fertility
What is the impact of an ageing population?
Increased strain on public services
More one-person households
The rising dependency ratio
Ageism
Which theorists speak about the ageing population?
Phillipson (Marxist) and Hunt (Postmodernist)
What does Phillipson say about the ageing population?
Marxist- The old are of no use to capitalism because they are no longer productive and an economically dependent group, adding to the dependency ratio.
What does Hunt say about the ageing population?
postmodernist- We can choose our identity no matter what our age is: our age no longer determines who we are. As a result of this, the elderly become a market for body maintenance and rejuvenation services and goods, such as cosmetic surgery, gym membership and anti-ageing products.
Define immigration
Movement into a society
Define emigration
Movement out of a society
What are reasons for migration?
Push factors - unemployment and economic recession
Pull factors - higher wages and better opportunities
