Pop + Env Case Studies

• POPULATION CHANGE (DECLINE) - JAPAN

  • World’s oldest population. 1 in 10 people 80 or older. Around 30% of total pop aged 65+.
  • 9th lowest birth-rate in the world. 2023 - approx. 750,000 births, around 40,000 lower than previous year. 70s - more than 2 mil. 
  • Fertility rate 1.3 - replacement rate 2.1. Number of babies born each yr continue to fall even if women start having more – because pool of childbearing women already very small.
  • Life expectancy risen - now 85, up from 78 in 1990. 
  • Population projected to fall from peak of 128 million in 2010 to less than 53 million by end of century.
• JAPAN POPULATION DECLINE - Issues 1

  • Growing number of older people, and declining numbers of workers to support them.
  • Almost 200,000 people aged 15-29 are caring for a family member. Growing number of households where 1 elderly person looking after another in need of nursing care.
  • 2015 - a 71 year old husband arrested for killing wife with dementia - got too tired of looking after her.
• JAPAN POPULATION DECLINE - Issues 2

  • Elderly employment rate one of highest - workers aged 65+ 13%+ of workforce. Done little to relieve burden on social security spending.
  • Efforts to boost birth rates - little success (growing cost of living, demanding work culture, more women in education - creates lack of willingness to form a family). Women also deterred by patriarchal society - women expected to be primary caregivers.
  • Prime Minister Jan 2023 - Country on brink of not being able to function as a society because of its declining birth rate.
• JAPAN POPULATION DECLINE - Issues 3

  • Industries have labour shortages - jobs hard to fill, with fewer young adults entering workforce. 
  • Smaller workforce = smaller tax revenue, lack of services etc. 
  • Rural communities dying out - 1 village went 25 years without any new births.
  • Public expenditure on pension, health care and elderly care systems increasing. 
  • Increased need for health care workers - will need to add one million nurses and care workers by 2025.
• JAPAN POP DECLINE - Solutions 1

  • Continued implementation of strict immigration laws despite some relaxations - experts saying rules should be loosened further to help tackle ageing society.
  • Japan is still one of the most ethnically homogeneous countries in the world. Below 3% of pop are foreign-born. 
  • Opening up Japan to large-scale immigration is a very sensitive subject - large reservations. 
• JAPAN POP DECLINE - Solutions 2

  • 2008, the government started allowing foreign nurses and care workers in.
  • Integration difficult - eg. having to pass the national exam in Japanese is very difficult. 
  • Gov pushing initiatives to encourage marriage and childbirth eg. enhancing child care services, offering housing subsidies. Some towns even paying couples to have kids.
• RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLACE + HEALTH - STRATFORD UPON AVON

  • Health of people in Strat better than England average.
  • One of 20% least deprived districts in England.
  • LE for men + women higher than England average.
  • Only 8% (1,600) children live in low income families.
  • 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation - significant differences in health + well-being within SUA.
  • Worst ranked area is Stratford Mount Pleasant East. Clopton and Welcombe Hills least deprived.
• Population and Socio-Economic Character - MPE

  • Large proportion of social housing (41%). 
  • More balanced age profile (only 20% over 65). High conc of ‘deprived groups’ including ‘elderly people reliant on state support’ + ‘young people living in high density social housing’.
  • 12% born outside UK - majority Eastern European.
  • 38% housing is flats. 15% terraced houses.
  • LE almost 4 yrs lower for men and almost 5 yrs lower for women. 
  • 39% in very good health (7.5% bad or very bad). 
  • Higher per capita rate of hospital admissions.
• Population and Socio-Economic Character - CWH

  • Least deprived in SUA and 1 of least deprived in whole of Warwickshire.
  • 85% of houses owned outright/mortgage. Only 2% socially rented.
  • 55% houses detached, 10% bungalows. Average size of houses 2 rooms bigger than SMPE (6.5 vs 4.8 rooms per house).
  • 35% over 65. Only 9% born outside UK.
  • Despite having older population, 48% in very good health, only 3.6% in bad or very bad health.
• Stratford - Physical Environment 

  Strong correlation in SUA between levels of social inequality, poor health and amount of green space. 

  MPE classed as inner suburb - surrounded by light industrial and commercial land use and residential developments. Limited open spaces with a small park and school playing field. 

  CWH outer suburban district with lower density housing and bigger gardens. Near Welcombe Hills Nature Reserve with 148 acres of open space, woodland and ponds with several walking trails.