However, the general increase in the quality of life has resulted in people living longer, which also have an effect on the overall population figures. Free national healthcare has improved, both of which have had a direct influence on increasing the ageing population. A better overall standard of living e.g. Housing, food etc… - has also eliminated many of the problems which caused early death. The UK therefore has an increasing population over the ages of 65 and 69 in the year 2025 will be 3,675,000 compared to 2,575,000 at the moment. This increasing trend is also noted in the age groups between 70-74, 75 to 79 etc… and, in fact the ratio increases directly with the age brackets (e.g. The total population over 100 years od in 2025 will have increased to 56,000 as opposed to 10,000 at present) clearly whilst sustainable at the moment, with our reducing population of young people, it will become increasingly more difficult to provide for the growing numbers of senior citizens by 2025.
Problems with our current immigration system have also affected the population demograph of the UK. Many immigrants are unskilled and become dependant upon the state for support in order to survive. They also have an effect on the figures for the total population of the UK as the numbers entering the country are not accurately recorded and therefore figures for the total population of the UK are somewhat inaccurate.
There are a number of ways in which the current population problems are being experienced in the UK can be rectified. Selective immigration policies, such as those imposed in Australia, could help ensure that fewer immigrants become a burden on our economy. Unfortunately, the increasing number of senior citizens has already resulted in more support being needed to provide for them: consequently, it would help if a larger proportion of the immigrant population were skilled and therefore help to play their part in supporting all members of their newly chosen society.
Incentive o encourage an increase in the birth rate need to be introduced, especially for the professional classes who, at present, are shunning the idea of having large families. Tax incentives could be provided to those who earn over a certain amount in order to encourage them to have two or more children. The tax rebates could increase in direct proportion to the number of children in a family (up to the third child, where upon it would remain constant) however, this would be difficult to implement unless tax concessions or greater allowances could be provided for lower income families to compensate for this tax incentive fort the higher earners.
Maintaining a sustainable economy would be vital in order to initiate and sustain this type of programme but improving the economy would be even more preferable. Making industries more efficient, providing development grants for small businesses, and working to increase international trade opportunities are just a few of the ways in which the economy could be strengthened. Furthermore, an improved economy would help to increase everyone’s standard of living and greater personal wealth might encourage people to have larger families, as well as enabling them to provide a greater contribution in caring for the elderly.
Increasing the retirement age would also help to reduce the number of people dependant upon state pensions and support. Since life expectancy has increased and people remain healthier for longer, this would not be impossibility and, in fact, might well be appreciated by the many able and active elderly people.
Hopefully, these policies would create a significant enough change to stabilise the population in the UK as well as boost the economy sufficiently to be able to support our ageing population.
Afghanistan
After the reign of the Taliban, industrialisation will take place which means that more people will be employed. This encourages people to get an education, which would hopefully allow them to understand about contraception, which should encourage less children. Obviously you cant put a law in place for a one child policy as people in the rural areas, on in minority group wont adhere to it.