Reasons for / Impacts of demographic trends

Question 1

What impact does an ‘ageing population’ have on society?

Answer 1

• More money is spent on providing pensions, more free healthcare from NHS, use resources to keep up with general wellbeing –> don’t offer anything in return
• Changing perceptions of what it means to be old –> living longer with healthier lifestyles
• Dependency ratio (take welfare from state) –> less money is spent on the growing population and new and improved buildings and systems

Question 2

How can we help to reduce the potentially negative impact of an ageing population?

Answer 2

Hirsch (2005):
- We need to increase retirement age, as this will be beneficial in two main ways:
~ People will be working and paying taxes for longer
~ People will be relying on their pension for less time
( these factors will both save the state money)

Question 3

Why has the death rate decreased since the beginning of the 20th century?

Answer 3

• The NHS provides free healthcare so less people are becoming ill or dying from their illnesses
• People know how and have access to be able to have a healthier diet which feeds the body rather than kills it (most people)
• Social housing is provided for those people who can’t afford housing of their own so they don’t have to live on the streets ( e.g. and freeze to death)
• The welfare state provides money to those people who are unable to get a job so that they can keep living and afford food, etc