Ageing

As countries around the world enter into new periods of development, bringing with them advancements in technology and health care, societies are moving into phases of population ageing never before seen by demographers. Population ageing is occurring in many more developed countries (MDC) globally, resulting from higher life expectancies and a collapse in fertility rates following the post World War II baby boom (Henry 2004, p.81). One of the clearest examples of an ageing population is Australia, with total fertility rates below replacement level and life expectancy at birth increasing dramatically over past decades. This ageing of Australia’s population, and the future implications associated, has sparked concern amongst social and economic planners, policy makers and Australia’s younger generations. But does population ageing merit the concern currently granted to it or, rather, is this change in age composition of the population merely the emergence of a new independent stage of life?

This essay examines the ageing of Australia’s population from two opposing views currently presented in relevant literature; concerns of population ageing and lack thereof. Various issues and concerns are first seen to plague the concept of population ageing in Australia, including increased government expenditure on age and health care and a deficiency in workers to facilitate economic growth. Conversely, the various benefits of an aging population are discussed, such as the increasing contributions to the Australian labour force (both directly and indirectly) and the societal gain brought by those aged 65 and over. Based on this information, it is concluded that whilst it is pertinent to consider future economic and social policy options to r...

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...e often do so with high levels of personal savings or superannuation. Moreover, the financial and social contributions of the elderly via volunteer work and community engagement are a major factor in maintaining Australia’s economic and societal growth. Finally, although planning implications should not be ignored, the emergence of new societal needs is an issue which planners constantly face. Based on this information, it is evident that population ageing does not deserve the pessimistic portrayal is currently receives. With effective planning and economic policy many of the adverse impacts of population ageing could be markedly reduced, and instead the importance of older generations to Australian society as a whole highlighted. In any case, the ageing of Australia’s population is best viewed as demographic transition which must be accepted in coming decades.