Lesson 10 problems with ageing populations.

Case study 4: The UK

Learning Objectives: To be able to explain the impacts of ageing populations. To suggest some solutions to these problems.

What shape would you expect a population pyramid to be for the UK?

Dependency Ratio
This is equal to the number of non-working age people per member of the working population. A dependent person is anyone who does not earn enough money to be independent ie they rely on others. Eg if there are 3 retired people and 2 children per working person the dependency ratio would be 5:1

Dependency Ratio
Can be calculated by: (pop aged 0-14) + (pop aged 65+) Pop aged 15-65

Is this accurate for the UK?

Real dependency ratio

Economically ACTIVE Vs INACTIVE For example, many people aged 16-65 are effectively economically inactive Students People on Sickness and disability allowance Long term unemployed (given up looking for work) Early retirement Mothers (or fathers) looking after children at home Note: The unemployed are still counted as economically active, if they are actively seeking work. However, if they have given up looking for work, then they are counted as inactive. Similarly some people over 65 may still be working

What is happening?
Babies in the UK are living longer and therefore life expectancy is increasing. WHY? The UK population is still growing but only slowly. However, by 2021, 19% of the UK population will be pensioners - Old dependants. The reason is due to the baby boom after the Second World War

The Future
Dependency ratios are falling.
This means less and less working age people per old dependent.

year
Dep Ratio

1990
5:1

2010
4:1

2030
3:1

2050
2:1

Problems of ageing populations......

Ageing Populations (MEDC) Growing Populations (LEDC)

Competition for work Lack of resources Pressure on healthcare and education systems Congestion and overcrowding

What can be done to combat the problems of ageing populations

Raise retirement ages people work longer. Encourage working migrants to the UK to fill in gaps in labour market. Employ more community nurses and carers to look after the elderly at home. Provide incentives to have children they pay people in France. Increase taxes to pay all the pensions. Encourage people to stay in employment after retirement.. B&Q.

All these strategies are designed to re-balance the dependency ratio

Economically Active Economically Dependent

TASK
Use the information from the video clip and from page 143 in the book to complete the case study sheet.

Card Sort Copy the table below and in pairs

discuss and try to sort the statements into the correct column MEDC BOTH LEDC

Alternatively.

France encouraging births,

Free/subsidised child care tax benefits paid parenting leave for men and women full time schooling starts at three-allowing parents to go back to work earlier, thus paying more tax Women with bigger families (more children) can take early retirement All designed to create a favourable dependency ratio in the future.

Homework
Complete the worksheet by colour coding the population solutions Which apply to LEDCs and Which to MEDCs Choose your top three solutions for each and be ready to justify your decision at the start of next lesson.