Managing Ageing Populations

Question 1

What is an ageing population? Can you name any countries that have one?

Answer 1

When there is a high proportion of older people.

The UK.

Question 2

What does the population pyramid of an ageing population look like? What stage is it?

Answer 2

Ageing populations are usally in Stage 5 and so resemble a lava lamp/fan. This is because there’s more older people than there are young.

look like dis:

Question 3

How does an ageing population affect a country’s future development?

Answer 3

Older people (65+) are supported by the working population (16-64) - they’re dependant on them. In a country with an ageing population, there are more people who are dependant.

Question 4

What are 2 economic impacts of an ageing population?

Answer 4

1. The working population pay taxes which contributes to state pensions of older people and services like retirement homes and healthcare. Taxes would have to go up because there are more pensions to pay and older people need more healthcare
2. The economy of the country would grow more slowly - less money is being spent on things that help the economy grow eg education and businesses and more money is spent on things that don’t help economic growth eg retirement homes

Question 5

What are 4 social impacts of an ageing population?

Answer 5

1. Healthcare services are stretched more because elderly people need more medical care.
2. People will need to spend more time working as unpaid carers for their older relatives. This means people have more leisure time and are more stressed and worried.
3. People may have fewer children because they can’t afford lots of kids when they have dependant elderly relatives. This leads to a drop in the birth rate.
4. The more old people there are, the lower the state pension will be. People will have to retire later because they can’t afford to get by on a state pension.

Question 6

Name 2 strategies to cope with an ageing population that don’t aid sustainable development.

Answer 6

1. Encouraging larger familes eg in Italy - the ‘baby bonus’
   This increases the number of young people and when they begin working, it increases the working population to pay tax and help the aged.
2. Encouraging the immigration of young people from other countries. This increases the working population and therefore the people who pay tax.

THESE DO NOT HELP TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THEY INCREASE THE POPULATION SIZE

Question 7

Name 2 strategies to cope with an ageing population that do aid sustainable development.

Answer 7

1. Raising the retirement age means people stay in work and pay tax for longer. They also claim the state pension for less time. Basically its work til u die xx
2. Raising taxes for the working population means the amount of money available to support the ageing population is increased. Not a v popular option tho lyk

THESE STRATEGIES HELP TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BECAYSE THEY HELP REDUCE THE IMPACTS WITHOUT INCREASING THE POPULATION SIZE.

Question 8

What are taxes, Grandpa?

Answer 8

You’ll see, Jimmy. You’ll see…