BY DAY 5
Respond by Day 5 to at least two colleagues in one or more of the following ways:
- Provide additional resources supporting your colleague’s posting.
- Provide other differences between countries that have not yet been identified.
- Offer alternative viewpoints and insights on your colleague’s predictions.
- Ask for clarification.
JESSICA
Three demographic citizen dependency
This discussion will discuss population control regarding China and India.
Population: China and India
The population in China in 1999 was six billion. 2008 after nine years, the population is fewer than 300 million from the next billion. As the population continues to grow, it will become increasingly important to understand what affects population growth, its effects, and how governments can control their populations, if necessary. In 2008, the population of India was 1.207 billion. (Stolc, P.E., 2008).
Citizen Dependency: China and India China’s life expectancy is lower due to having more health issues. The Chinese government gives minimal financial assistance to older people. Therefore, older people depend on their relatives and friends.
During 1966-1971, China began to implement control regarding the over-population growth.
In China, you were allowed to have two children per family. Three children were too many. (I have five children)! The workers retiring in China each year beginning in 2011 will total fifteen million, equal to the number of new workers that year. In 2050, each Chinese worker will support seven younger or older dependents. One suggestion is to raise the retirement age. However, age discrimination is significant in China, and workers in their 40s struggle to find jobs. (Stolc P. E., 2008).
According to Kunkel, S. R., India is a relatively young society. Only 6% of its population is 65 years or older. The average life expectancy is 70 years for women and 67 years for men. Many aspects of social life, healthcare availability, and the number of generations who live together (e.g., the kind of healthcare available, the number of generations in a family who live together, the availability of pensions, and the status of women) are related to these patterns of birth and death that produce population aging. For example, India’s healthcare system focuses on maternal and child health, family planning, and immunization. (Kunkel, &Setterson, 2022).
Older people depend heavily on their families for financial and medical care. In conclusion, this leaves the younger generation facing challenges because of the rapid growth of the older population.
Conclusion: I believe China has a significant impact on its aging citizens. China implemented the one-child policy, focusing on boys having a chance to live. There will not be enough young people to give older people the care they need. Younger generations are the only ones to benefit from them.
Reference
Kunkel, S.R., &Settersen, Jr., R.A. (2022). Aging, society, and the life course (6th ed.). Springer.
Stolc, P. E. (2008). Seeking zero growth: Population policy in China and India. Graduate Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies, 6(2), 10-32.
JEFFERSON
South Korea is aging much more rapidly than other countries because its fertility rates have declined rapidly (Kim and Lee, 2021). Life expectancy in South Korea rapidly increased, from 62.16 in 1970 to 67.55 in 1983 (Kim and Lee, 2021). Life expectancy rose over the next three decades, reaching 83.3 (Kim and Lee, 2021). The population aged 65 and older increased from 3.1 percent in 1970 to 14.9 percent in 2019 (Kim and Lee, 2021). The old-age dependency ratio also exceeded the youth dependency ratio in South Korea in 2017 (Kim and Lee, 2021). The unprecedented rapid population aging is one of Korea’s most important economic and social risks, which hinders sustainable growth and social cohesion (Kim and Lee, 2021). Older adults are also driven into bridge jobs, negatively affecting the country’s fiscal sustainability (Kim and Lee, 2021). In addition, in Korea, 39% of the population will be 60 years or older by 2050 (Kim et al., 2020). A severe consequence of population aging is the increase in chronic diseases, accounting for 60% of deaths worldwide (Kim et al., 2020). As the elderly population increases, the primary focus is to reduce the gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy (Kim et al., 2020). Korea has a life expectancy of 82.16 years, whereas its healthy life expectancy is 73.2 years (Kim et al., 2020). Hospitals have been unable to meet the needs of the elderly when providing care (Kim et al., 2020).
In West Africa, the geriatric population aged 60 and over is increasing; by 2050, it is expected to double (Ewunie et al., 2022). The increase creates a new challenge, and these segments of the population are more vulnerable to malnutrition because aging may come with cognitive and physical decline, depressive symptoms, and emotional variations (Ewunie et al., 2022). However, Olaniyan et al. (2021) state that Africa is projecting to increase in population growth of the youthful and working-age population in the coming decades. Africa’s dependency has increased because of a large unemployed young population, and to have a high support ratio, few non-workers should be supported by workers.
It appears South Korea indicates a high rate of dependency than West Africa because the number of working adults is low and aging is increasing. Several older adults show a very low life expectancy due to illness compared to healthy individuals. The high dependency rate creates a burden not only to the working youth but also to healthcare facilities, who will have to provide care. West Africa’s population, as far as aging goes, is increasing; however, it appears that there are more youthful working than in South Korea, and the working people in this country expect to grow in the future even if there is an indication of aged 60 and over to be increased in the future.
The higher dependency ratio indicates that the economically active population and the overall economy may encounter a more considerable burden to support and provide social services to children and older persons. In addition, as the population ages, more families are obligated to deal more with caring for elderly relatives and end-of-life decisions.
References
Ewunie, T. M., Hareru, H. E., Dejene, T. M., & Abate, S. M. (2022). Malnutrition among the aged population in Africa: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of studies over the past 20 years. PLoS ONE, 17(12), e0278904. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278904
Kim, H. K., & Lee, S.-H. (2021). The effects of population aging on South Korea’s economy: The National Transfer Accounts approach. The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, 20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2021.100340
Kim, Y.-S., Lee, J., Moon, Y., Kim, H. J., Shin, J., Park, J.-M., Uhm, K. E., Kim, K. J., Yoo, J. A., Oh, Y. K., Byeon, P., Lee, K., Han, S.-H., & Choi, J. (2020). Development of a senior-specific, citizen-oriented healthcare service system in South Korea based on the Canadian 48/6 model of care. BMC Geriatrics, 20(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-019-1397-3
Olaniyan, O., Olasehinde, N., Odufuwa, O., &Awodumi, O. (2021). The nature and extent of demographic dividend in West Africa: National transfer account approach. The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, 20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2021.100349
