Around the world, people are now living longer than ever before in the past.
Some say an ageing population creates problems for governments. Others
believe there are benefits to society having more elderly people.
To what extent do the advantages of possessing an ageing population outweigh
the disadvantages?
As the technology become more advanced, life expectancy across the globe has
increased considerably. In contrast, there is a discernible decline in birth rate in
several parts of the world. As stated by numerous scholars, world population
ageing is a real conundrum for governments to deal with. However, I still argue
that this trend provides society as a whole with a great many benefits.
When it comes to an aged community, people tend to think of a slowdown in
economic growth. The longer people live, the more pressure governments are
under. For instance, Japan, a country well-known for its old citizens, allocates a
huge amount of money on making allowance for the increasing need for
healthcare and government-paid pension. Additionally, this country also
undergoes a shortage of workforce due to the combination of a reduced number
of younger generation and more retirees. This same situation happens to almost
every nation at various moments in their own history.
That being said, older generation have a lot to contribute in terms of skills,
experience and wisdom. If people live longer and can remain physically active
for longer, experienced workers, together with the help of technology, will
boost productivity, which greatly benefits the economy. Not only are they an
asset to the economy, but they are also able to make contributions even after
retirement by volunteering and helping their families. Instead of spending
money on childcare services, parents now can be rest-assured to have
grandparents take care of their off-springs.
Whilst an ever ageing population presents both challenges and opportunities, it
is obvious that its tremendous opportunities significantly outweigh its flaws.