Population Change - Case Study - UK ageing population Flashcards
Why does the UK have an ageing population?
Increasing life expectancy - between 1980 and 2006 life expectancy rose 2.8 years for women and 4 years for men. It is currently 81 years for women and 77 years for men. Due to people living longer, the number of elderly are increasing.
Baby booms - Lots of babies were born in the 1940’s and 1960’s. These large generations are starting to retire.
Falling birth rates - There are fewer young people so the proportion of older people increases.
What are the problems of the UK’ ageing population?
Today - 60% of people are of working-age and pay taxes for the pensions of 19% at the retirement age.
2030 - 56% will be working-age but the taxes they pay will have to provide for 27% at retirement age.
There are more elderly people living in poverty - This is due to the state pension being too small to provide a decent quality of life for the elderly and many don’t have personal savings.
Pressure on the health service - older people need more medical care. The average stay in hospital for people over 75 is 13 nights but only 8 nights for the whole population.
What has the UK done to manage their ageing population?
Plans to increase the retirement age from 65-68 for men and 60-68 for women by 2050. This increases the size of the working population.
Encouraging immigration of working-age people - The UK currently allows unlimited immigration from EU countries. In 2004 80% of immigrants were under 34. This again increases the size of the working population.
Encouraging more women to have children - The UK proposes a pension plan which would mean their pension would not be effected if they took a career break to have children. In some instances tax incentives are also used.
Which strategies work towards sustainable development?
Increasing the retirement age - This helps sustainable development because it doesn’t increase the population. However more jobs will be needed and to maintain sustainability they must be environmentally friendly jobs such as work in wind-turbine power plants.
Allowing immigration - this is only sustainable if the needs of new people are met in a sustainable way. e.g. meeting the increased energy demands via renewable sources.
Encouraging more children - This would increase the population so is the same as immigration.
