Updated: Nov 23rd, 2024

Effects of Ageing Population as Driving Force Research Paper

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Social
Economic
Political
Environmental
Works Cited

Introduction

One of the great accomplishments of the 20^th century is improvement in life expectancy. For instance, demographic figures indicate that life expectancy in America has increased from 45 years in the early 1900s to 75.6 in the year 2004 (Feldstein 23). Nevertheless, improved life expectancy joint with decreasing birth rates is becoming a major concern in today’s society.

Across the globe, the population is ageing. The situation is being experienced at a time when the number of people required in the workforce is increasing raising fears over its impacts to the society (Firth 56). As such, diverse age groups have dissimilar desires and productive capabilities. Therefore, countries’ social, economic, political, and environmental features will vary as their population ages.

Positive effects

Negative effects

Ageing people contribute positively to society through their services (Harper 4). Compared to the younger generation, the elderly participate more in community voluntary services.
Aging population leads to a lower crime rate.
Older people participate in supporting and sustaining social network enhancing family and community setups.

Ageing population strains medical services. Unlike the younger generation, the elderly are prone to terminal illnesses, which require comprehensive medical services and care.
Older people have specific needs like declining mobility. The above imply that they are more dependent on other persons. A country with increased aging persons is straining its present population numbers.
Ageing population will strain resources in elderly homes.

Economic

Positive effects

Negative effects

An increased aging population will lead to a bigger market for goods and services associated with the elderly.
An aging population has a reduced birthrate. Thus, the government spending on education is reduced.

Aging population leads to shortage of workers leading to increased wages (Jones 20). Through this, the economic growth of a country will be impaired.
Aging population will increase the government spending on healthcare services.
An increase in aging population will lead to a pension crisis. In such situations, a shortage of money to cover pensions will be witnessed.
An aging population leads to increased taxes because of decreased number of employees (Onofri 27). An increase in taxation rates will hurt the economic growth of a country.

Political

Positive effects	Negative effects
Aging population will enhance political stability of a country. Compared to the younger generation, the elderly participate less in conflicts that might fuel wars among communities.	A country with an aging population will attract immigrants from countries with a younger population. Because of this, tensions will arise between the immigrants and the residence. The tension may fuel civil wars.

Environmental

Positive effects

Negative effects

Compared with younger population, ageing people contribute positively to society through their services (Kaiser 4). For instance, participate more in community voluntary services aimed at conserving the environment.

Aging population will require construction of additional home cares for the elderly. Construction and utilization of these structures will lead to negative environmental impacts (Kaiser 2). For instance, these homes will strain the available water resources, water treatment plants, and waste collection.
Available figures indicate that an aging population travels more frequently compared with a younger generation (Kaiser 2). Increased travelling has negative environmental impacts resulting from augmented fuel consumption. Through this, associated emissions will surge resulting in air pollution.

Works Cited

Feldstein, Martin. The Effects Of The Ageing European Population On Economic Growth And Budgets. Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2006. Print.

Firth, Lisa. An Ageing Population. Cambridge: Independence, 2008. Print.

Harper, Sarah. “Editorial: Social Security In An Ageing World”. Population Ageing 2.1-2 (2009): 1-4. Print.

Jones, Gavin. “Population Ageing In Asia and Its Implications For Mobility”. Population Ageing 1.1 (2008): 31-49. Print

Kaiser, Angelika. “A Review Of Longitudinal Datasets On Ageing”. Population Ageing 6.1-2 (2013): 5-27. Print.

Onofri, Paolo. The Economics of An Ageing Population. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Pub., 2004. Print.

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