Geography: Population change in the UK

Economic factors that affect population change in the UK

Economic factors that affect population change in the UK

• Migration

• Maternity pay for women

• Child benefits

• Access to the NHS

• Mechanisation of farms

Social factors affecting population change

• Improved public sanitation, diets, medicine and thus life expectancy

• Increased access to contraception, improved education and more women prioritising their career results in lower birth rates

Political factor affecting population change and its impact

• Free movement within the EU led to more migration into the UK for (employment) opportunities.

• These are young people of child-bearing age. They may choose to start a family in the UK, boosting the birth rate.

• They contribute to the economy by bringing valuable skills to their places of employment, and filling gaps in jobs that may be vacant. Combats the ageing population.

How increased life expectancy changes UK population

• Improving health care, public sanitation and diet has led to fewer deaths and a longer average lifespan and lower infant mortality rates.

• If the birth rate stays the same, but the death rate decreases, then the total population will increase

• This leads to an increasing proportion of elderly people (above the age of 65), known as an ageing population.

Negative economic impacts of the ageing population

• Elderly people are more likely to have health issues and visit their doctor/have home visits more often than younger people, and occupy hospital beds for longer. This puts strain on the NHS and the government must find money to fund this care.

• The wages of the current generation pay the pensions of today’s pensioners, but with decreasing proportions of young, working age people to elderly pensioners, it will become harder to pay for this. This could lead to a pension crisis.

• Pensioners may not contribute to the economy. Less people of working age means there are fewer workers so the economy and tax base of the country may shrink, and they are challenged with the increasing numbers of dependent population (higher dependency ratio)

Positive economic impacts of the ageing population

• If older people are given the choice to work for longer before retiring, we could benefit from their experience and knowledge

• Younger retired people contribute lots to the economy: they reasonable amounts of money and lots of leisure time, hence are good consumers.

• Many retired people do essential voluntary work in schools and for charities

Political impact of ageing population

They can have a strong influence when voting in elections, but their opinions may differ from those people of working age who may be more strongly affected by these elections.

Social impacts of an ageing population

• Elderly people may have feelings of isolation

• Elderly people are often undervalued by society because they are not actively working to contribute to the economy (though they may do it in other ways)

Methods of responding to the ageing population

• Encourage migration of younger people who have useful work skills

• Encourage young people to start saving into pension schemes earlier in life

• Raise the age at which people must retire and/or can begin to claim the old age pension

• Pro-natalist policies to encourage a higher fertility rate, eg. Child Benefit paid to mothers

Why might people choose to migrate?

• Economic (employment), sociocultural or political reasons

• Push factors (home country): war, unemployment/lack of opportunity, poverty, poor standard of living

• Pull factors (UK): political asylum, employment opportunities, higher GDP/standard of living

Positive economic impacts of migration

• Take up less desirable/menial but essential jobs which natives would not take and may suffer from seasonal shortages of labour

• Gain skilled and well educated workers and fill the ‘skill gap’ which may require specific expertise

• Cost of retirement can be transferred to home country

• Home country benefits from money being sent home

• Migrants may return and bring new skills to home country

• Less pressure on resources for home country

• Pressure on services made up for by taxes paid by migrants

Negative economic impacts of migration

• Migrant children must be educated and may not speak the native language of host country

• Home country loses young workforce, slowing economic development and reducing investment in companies

• Overdependency in some industries on migrant labour taking jobs from locals leading to a lack of jobs for natives (of host country)

• More people increase pressure on resources and services like the NHS

Positive social impacts of migration

• Creation of a multi-ethnic society increases tolerance and understanding of other cultures in host country

• Influx of new or revitalised services eg. restaurants in host country

• In home country, money sent home may be used to improve education and health service

• Population density reduced in home country and birth rate falls due to fewer young child-bearing age people, helping to ease overpopulation

Negative social impacts of migration

• Aspects of migrants’ cultural identity may be lost especially the more generations that live in host country

• First generation migrants may not speak English and struggle to communicate

• Potential for discrimination against certain ethnic groups which may lead to civil unrest and extremism

• In home country, migration of men and young families may cause loss of cultural traditions, and increase dependency ratio.

Why does the UK need to build new homes?

• Ageing population: people are occupying houses for longer so they are not becoming vacant for a younger generation to move into

• Migration and natural increase: Total population is increasing so more housing is needed

• Living independently: Divorce has become more common and more people (especially young adults) live on their own (rather than sharing with family or a partner) which requires more houses

• Less houses built: so there is a shortage of new homes and the supply cannot keep up with the demand.

What are garden cities?

Towns with a lot of open green space, with high quality homes and access to local jobs and services. They are built artificially and were first built in the 1930s. Neighbouring small villages may become part of the garden city, losing their distinctive character and/or community.

What are the main options for new housing?

1. Brownfield sites

2. Greenfield sites

3. Small scale urban developments (infill)

4. Garden cities