Topic 4 - Demography

Question 1

Reasons for the decline in birth rate (long-term) [4]

Answer 1

1. Changes in the position of women - Increased educational opportunities, contraception etc
2. Fall in infant mortality rate - improved knowledge of hygiene & child health
3. Children as an economic liability - Compulsory schooling has meant children remain economically dependent for longer
4. Child centredness - parents focus on quality not quantity, meaning they have fewer children but lavish more attention and resources on them.​

Question 2

Impacts of a declining birth rate [4]

Answer 2

• The dependency ratio increases - the relationship between the size of the working population and the non-working 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.

Question 3

Reasons for a decline in death rate [4]

Answer 3

• 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)

Question 4

Reasons for an aging population [3]

Answer 4

Increased life expectancy
Low infant mortality rate
Declining fertility

Question 5

Impact of an aging population

Answer 5

Increased strain on public services
More one-person households
The rising dependency ratio
Ageism
​

Question 6

Ageing Population - Phillipson (Marxist)

Answer 6

The old are of no use to capitalism because they are no longer productive & an economically dependent group, adding to the dependency ratio.

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Question 7

Ageing Population - Hunt (Postmodernist) [2]

Answer 7

• We can choose our identity no matter what our age is: our age no longer determines who we are.
• Elderly become a market for body maintenance services and goods, e.g. cosmetic surgery, gym membership and anti-ageing products.

Question 8

What is immigration?

Answer 8

Movement into a society

Question 9

What is emigration?

Answer 9

Movement out of a society

Question 10

Reasons for migration: [2]

Answer 10

Push factors - unemployment and economic recession

Pull factors - higher wages and better opportunities