Theorists - Demographics Flashcards
Key Theorist - Harper (2012): Birth and Fertility Rates
WHAT DOES HARPER ARGUE WITH REGARDS TO EDUCATION AND BIRTH AND FERTILITY RATES?
- Education of women is the most important reason for the long term fall in birth and fertility rates.
- Education has led to a change of mindset in women.
- Educated women are likely to use family planning and now see other opportunities in life rather than just becoming a housewife and mother.
- Once a pattern of low fertility lasts for more than one generation, cultural norms about family size change.
Key Theorist - Harper (2012): Birth and Fertility Rates
WHAT DOES HARPER ARGUE WITH REGARDS TO CHANGES IN FAMILY SIZE?
Smaller families are now the norm.
Key Theorist - Harper (2012): Birth and Fertility Rates
WHAT DOES HARPER GIVE AS THE REASON FOR WHY A FALL IN THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE HAS LED TO A FALL IN DEATH RATE?
If infants survive parents are less likely to have children to replace them.
Key Theorist - Harper (2012): Birth and Fertility Rates
HOW CAN THIS THEORY BE EVALUATED?
- The ideas of this theory are supported by the fact that in 2012, 1 in 5 women aged 45 were childless - double the amount of 25 years earlier.
Key Theorists - Brass and Kabir (1978) Infant Mortality Rates
WHAT DO THEY ARGUE?
Trend of smaller families began in urban areas where the IMR remained higher for longer, and not in rural areas where the IMR first began to fall.
Key Theorist - Tranter (1996): Death Rate Decline
WHAT DO THEY ARGUE?
- Over 3/4 of the decline in death rate, from 1850-1970 was due to a fall in the number of deaths caused by infectious diseases.
- Deaths from infectious diseases were most common in young people, and most of the decline in death rate occurred among infants, young children and young adults.
Key Theorist - McKeown (1972): Decline in Death Rates
WHAT DOES THIS THEORY ARGUE?
- Improved nutrition accounted for up to half of the reduction in death rates - particularly important in reducing deaths caused by TB.
- Better nutrition increased resistance to infection and better survival chances for those who did become infected.
Key Theorist - McKeown (1972): Decline in Death Rates
HOW CAN THIS THEORY BE EVALUATED?
- Does not explain why females, who receive a smaller share of food, live longer than men.
- Fails to explain why deaths from infectious diseases actually rose at a time of improved nutrition.
Key Theorist - Harper: Death Rates
WHAT DOES HARPER ARGUE WITH REGARDS TO DEATH RATES?
- The greatest fall in death rates has not come from medical improvements, but from a reduction in the amount of people smoking.
- We are moving to an ‘American’ health culture where lifestyles are unhealthy but lives are long due to costly medication.
- If trend in greater lifespan continues, we will soon achieve ‘radical longevity’ with more people aged over 100 years.
Key Theorist - Harper: Death Rates
HOW CAN THIS THEORY BE EVALUATED?
- Idea cannot be fully applied to today’s society as obesity as replaced smoking as the new lifestyle epidemic.
Key Theorist - Walker (2011): Class, Gender and Regional Differences
WHAT DO THEY ARGUE?
- Those living in the poorest areas of England, die on average 7 years earlier than those in the richest areas.
- The average in disability-free life expectancy is 17 years.
Key Theorist - Hirsch (2005): Ageing Population
WHAT DID THEY FIND WITH REGARDS TO AGE PYRAMIDS?
- The traditional age ‘pyramid’ is disappearing and being replaced with more equal size ‘blocks’ representing different age groups.
Example:
- By 2041 there will be as many 78 year olds a 5 year olds.
Key Theorist - Hirsch (2005): Ageing Population
WHAT DO THEY ARGUE?
- Social policies will need to change in order to tackle the new problems imposed by an ageing population.
- The main problem will be how to finance a longer period of old age.
- Policies also require a cultural change towards attitudes of old age.
- Old age is socially constructed - not fixed
Key Theorist - Hirsch (2005): Ageing Population
WHAT DO THEY ARGUE CAN BE DONE TO FINANCE A LONGER PERIOD OF OLD AGE?
1) Paying more from our savings and taxes whilst we are working
2) Working longer
Key Theorist - Hirsch (2005): Ageing Population
HIRSCH ARGUES THAT HOUSING POLICIES MAY NEED TO CHANGE, WHAT DO THEY SUGGEST SHOULD HAPPEN?
- Encourage older people to trade down into smaller houses. This would:
1) Release their wealth - improved standard of living
2) Free up housing for younger people