Section 5: Assess the Social and Economic Implications of Aged and Youth Dependency

Section 5: Assess the social and economic implications of aged and youth dependency

Students should appreciate that while world population growth is beginning to slow down there are still problems of rapid growth in some areas leading to environmental degradation eg refugee camps, urbanisation and desertification. Problems associated with ageing populations may be studies in a number of countries in the EU where issues about welfare and health provision are current concerns.

Aged Dependency (too many older people in an MEDC)

1. Draw the shape of a population pyramid that you would expect to see in an MEDC 2. Why might you expect the structure of the population to show an ageing population? (Explain in detail) Hint: Link to stage in DTM and describe the social and economic changes going on in the population 3. What are the social and economic consequences of an ‘aged’ population? Take DETAILED notes from page 14 and 15 from Wider World – you need detail from the text and from the table (Fig 1.19) and you should take some notes about Italy (you might want to draw out the population pyramid as well).

Youth Dependency (too many younger people in an LEDC)

1. Draw the shape of a population pyramid that you would expect to see in an LEDC 2. Why might you expect the structure of the population to show a youthful population? (Explain in detail) Hint: Link to stage in DTM and describe the social and economic changes going on in the population 3. What are the social and economic consequences of a ‘youthful’ population? Take DETAILED notes from page 12 and 13 from Wider World – you need detail from the text and from the table (Fig 1.14) and you should take some basic notes about China and how they put together a special government policy to try and get rid of some of the youth dependency. (you might want to draw out the population pyramid as well).

Which do you think is better – an aged or a youthful dependency population? Give reasons for your answer. Finally – take a look at the pages titled ‘Dependency’ from the CCEA GCSE book and take notes so that you know what the dependency ration is and some of the key notes that surround the pyramid on page 125.