Summary of The Changing Demographics of America - Essay Example

Summary of the Changing Demographics of U.S There has been a disparity in the population estimates of United States in the middle of 21st century by the United Nations and the United States Census Bureau. United Nation stipulates that the population is estimated to be 404million while the US Bureau of statistics shows an estimate of between 422 to 458 million people. Kotkin can estimate that the population will have risen by 100 million from the present day (Kotkin, 2010).The number of aging population of 65 years and above is said to increase from 13% to 20% by the middle of the century.

The number of the young and working population is also estimated to rise with a 42 percent growth in the population age bracket between 15 and 65. According to Kotkin this is as opposed to other developed countries such as Japan; South Korea, Europe and China whose population is estimated to decrease. The high young population is attributed by the high fertility and immigration rates. Most of the European countries are estimated to be authentic old-age homes as a high percentage of their populations will be 65 years and above (Kotkin, 2010).

According to Kotkin, the high immigration rates and the high fertility rates of US have prompted some critics by environmentalists who are worried by additional 100 million people in the country by 2050. They are calling for national policies to control the high immigration and fertility rate. Colleen Heenam, an author and one of the environmental activists articulates that Americans who favour huge families don’t take responsibility for their prejudicial actions towards population growth which will lead to shortage of the limited resources.

Peter Kareiva, a scientist had suggested that the best way to reduce carbon emissions is to give birth to no child (Kotkin, 2010).These critiques forgot to put into consideration that paucity of young people and low population in the country will pose a threat to the country’s labour productivity and be a scourge to the nation’s eudemonia (Kotkin, 2010).ReferencesKotkin Joel. The Changing Demographics in America. 2010, Retrieved from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/40th-anniversary/The-Changing-Demographics-of-America.html