Demography

• REASONS FOR THE DECLINE IN BIRTH RATE 

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  1. Changes in the position of women

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  2. Fall in infant mortality rate

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  3. Children as an economic liability

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  4. Child centrednes

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• Birth rate - the number of live births per year per 1000. Trends: a long-term decline in birth rate. However, there were 3 ‘baby booms’ after WW1, WW2 and during the 1960’s.
• IMPACT OF A DECLINING BIRTH RATE

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  The dependency ratio increases - the relationship between the size of the working population and the non-working (dependent) population.

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  The working population’s earnings support the dependent population through tax.

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  Women are having fewer children because this reduces the ‘burden of dependency’.

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  Public services - fewer schools, child health services etc.
• Death rate - The number of deaths per 1000 per year. Trends: declining. With the exception of fluctuations in WW1, WW2 and the 1918 flu epidemic.
• REASONS FOR A DECLINE IN DEATH RATE

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  Improved nutrition

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  Medical improvements (vaccinations, antibiotics, NHS)

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  Public health improvements (better housing, clean water, clean air)

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  Social change (decline in manual labour, greater knowledge of disease)
• REASONS FOR AN AGEING POPULATION

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  The average age in the UK is increasing because of:

  • Increased life expectancy
  • Low infant mortality rate
  • Declining fertility
• IMPACT OF AN AGEING POPULATION

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  • Increased strain on public services
  • More one-person households
  • The rising dependency ratio
  • Ageism
• PHILLIPSON (MARXIST):​

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  The old are of no use to capitalism because they are no longer productive and an economically dependent group, adding to the dependency ratio.
• HUNT (POSTMODERNIST):​

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  We can choose our identity no matter what our age is: our age no longer determines who we are. As a result of this, the elderly become a market for body maintenance and rejuvenation services and goods, such as cosmetic surgery, gym membership and anti-ageing products.  

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• MIGRATION

  IMMIGRATION:​

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  Movement into a society

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  EMIGRATION:​

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  Movement put of a society

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  REASONS FOR MIGRATION​

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  Push factors - unemployment and economic recession

  Pull factors - higher wages and better opportunities

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