demographics pt1
births
birth rate : the number of live births per 1000 of the population per year
fluctuations in births, 'baby booms' in 20th century after the wars
total fertility rate : is the average number of children women will have during their fertile years (15-44)
A02 in 2014 birth rate fell to 12.2 compared to 28.7 in 1900
factors : proportion of women who are of childbearing age + how fertile they are
1.83 in 2014 compared to 2.95 in 1964
why are there changes? : more women remaining childless + women are postponing having children, average age of giving birth is 30
reasons why there is a decline??
changes in womens position
increased educational opportunities has meant delaying childbearing
decline in infant mortality
more women in paid employment, plus laws outlawing unequal pay and sex discrimination
infant mortality rate : measures the number of infants who die before their first birthday per 1000 per year
less children being replaced to those who have been lost, if infants survive, parents will have fewer of them
reasons why? : improved housing, reduced infectious diseases, better nutrition, improved healthcare
A02 mass immunisation against childhood diseases like measles
child centeredness
in terms of family sizes, there has been a shift from 'quantity' to 'quality'
children now an economic liability
laws banning child labour meaning they are remaining economically dependant is for longer periods of time
financial pressures due to the cost of living increases, means parents now feel less able to have a large family
impacts of these changes
dependency ratio : proportion of those who are working and those who are not
dual earner families appearing
deaths
death rate : the number of deaths per 1000 of the population per year
A02 2012 death rate was 8.9, half of what it was in 1900 with 19
reasons why there is a decline ??
improved nutrition
medical improvements
improved medical knowledge about antibiotics, blood transfusion, immunisation, etc
smoking and diet
public health measures
A02 clean air act, reducing air pollution after the smog of 1952
A02 decline in manual occupations such as mining
life expectancy
the ageing population
2013, average age of population was 40.3 compared to 34.1 in 1971
caused by 3 factors : increasing life expectancy, declining infant mortality, declining fertility
effects of an ageing population
public services
older people consume a larger proportion of services like healthcare
one-person pensioner households
generally women, as they live longer than men
the dependancy ratio
non working old population are economically dependant, increasing the burden of the working population
consequences of an ageing population
ageism
being excluded from production by compulsory retirement (stigmatised identity)
marxists : the old are of no use to capitalism, meaning that the state is unwilling to support them adequately and so family often take responsibility for their care
A03 postmodernism : consumption becomes the key to our identity. define ourselves by what we consume (age no longer matters)
access to abortion and reliable contraception, giving women more control over their fertility
obesity has increased, moving towards an 'american' culture
smoking has decreased