An Aging Population - Case Study Example

An ageing population Discuss what you consider to be the main reasons for the demographic changes outlined in the case study? The main reasons forthe demographic changes outlined in the case study are the increase in the life expectancy and birth rates on one hand and on the other is the decrease in the mortality rate. In accordance with the hypothesis of demographic transition, the change towards low mortality and fertility rates takes place when there is a progression of general modernization developing from industrialization, urbanization, learning, empowerment of females, in addition to considerable overall socio-economic expansion. Such a modification leads primarily to a fall in mortality through development in hygiene and medicine and, consequently, to a reduction in fertility caused by economic augmentation. Mortality decline as a prerequisite for fertility decline develops the foundation stone of the hypothesis (The State of Demographic Transition in Africa, 2001, p. 1). In the case study it has been told that in present times, about 75 percent of those born 65 years earlier are even now alive and their percentage is anticipated to arrive at ninety percent by the middle of this century. It has been told in the study that life expectancy has incremented because of improvement in the medical science and other developments. According to the health experts, the number of individuals suffering from incapacitating conditions for instance, cancer and heart disease will develop. It has been noticed with the enhancement in medical science, there has also been an augmentation in the number and variety of diseases. This has been due to the fact that the pollution has been increasing at a fast pace in contemporary times. 2. As well as impacting pensions, consider some other implications that may arise. You should refer to the data in the table for the welfare state and for the government’s social policy & employers in your response. Are there any other repercussions that you can think of that have not been discussed in the table? Apart from impacting pensions, there would be several problems which may crop up due to increase in life expectancy. Whilst sanitation, surgery and pharmaceuticals drove life expectancy in the history, today’s biotech revolution will augment it still further. Gene therapy shows potentiality in context to new therapies for diseases of old age for instance, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. A lot of hereditary diseases would become curable. Stem cell investigation may bring about the substitution of worn out organs and tissues. Consequently, average life expectancy may arrive at a hundred, or more than that. If we are fit and well now and uphold a good health over the approaching years, there may have no boundary to our life expectancy. This would, of course, carry several problems, such as, the social and economic confrontations of dealing with a population, ethical queries, the morality of suicide, and limitations on births (Outliving our life expectancy, n.d.). Individuals do not necessarily make choices based on competence or the health of the surroundings. They are suitable to do what they have done in the past, what is anticipated, what their buddies and neighbours do, what is stylish. Customs and habits also may restrict the lifestyle choices that are accessible. Businesses and administrations tend not to deliver products, services, and policies which general people do not wish for. Mass transportation is much less wasteful of fossil fuels in comparison to automobile utilization. However, if the public has not claimed for mass transportation and the required train lines and subway systems and bus routes have not been constructed, then they are not quickly accessible when and if individuals alter their minds. Impetus has to be built up for such alterations. Nevertheless, ironically, if the alternatives are not available, it is difficult to set up impetus for them (The role culture and habit, n.d.). The environment trend has been considered for longevity, market consciousness and possible profitability. Several corporations, such as auto manufacturers with electric cars attempted to take advantage of the green awareness. The care of Mother Earth is still a big apprehension for our civilization. This trend is sustained by businesses lessening dependence on oil and gas with new types of energy such as, wind power. Wind power experienced about 1.7 billion dollar augmentation in new tools during 2001. Also, we can focus on the corporations aiding companies decrease energy consumption with new varieties of energy saving commodities. For instance, one small business is yielding from installing energy proficient shipping entrances for corporate shipping processes (Zahorsky, n.d.). In the given case study, it can only be observed that life expectancy has been continually increasing but the other factors like change in technology, advent of new medications, etc. have not been referred in the data table. 3. Suggest some remedies to help alleviate the implications you have discussed in question 2. Explain how your suggestions may help the issues you discussed. Environmental care deceives some apprehension for the future generations. Yet, the way individuals value future is significantly affected by their life expectancy. A higher longevity makes persons more understanding to upcoming generations or their future selves. Consequently, if somebody anticipates living longer, he should be eager to invest more in ecological quality. The causal association between life expectancy and ecological quality may also go the other way around. Quite a lot of studies in medicine and epidemiology have revealed that ecological quality is a vital factor influencing health and morbidity. Air and water pollution, exhaustion of natural resources, soils worsening, etc. are all able to augment human mortality, thereby decreasing longevity. It can be portrayed that the best possible choices rely significantly on life expectancy. It shows a higher possibility to be alive in the 3rd stage that increases investment in the environment and lessens consumption. Since longevity is sequentially influenced by ecological situations, the resulting feedback creates an affirmative correlation between the 2 variables (investment and consumption), both at the steady-state and along the transition course (Mariani, Perez-Barahona and Raffin, 2009, p. 2-3). Though the gaps in life expectancy between males and females have constricted somewhat, differentiations by earnings and educational achievement have been rising. The close association between socioeconomic status and mortality (the flip part of longevity) has been viewed and is well essayed. People with higher lifetime income or more education experience lower mortality rates in comparison to those with lower lifetime income or less education. However, in present times, socioeconomic status has become an even more significant pointer of life expectancy, whether gauged at birth or at age 65. Augmentations in average life expectancy have apparent insinuations for the future expenditure of both Social Security and Medicare (social insurance programs). As recipient live longer, they will obtain advantages for a longer duration, thereby augmenting the programs’ outlays. Thus, the Social Security program has been set up so as to offer advantages to retired employees and their survivors and to employees who have become immobilized (Growing Disparities in Life Expectancy, 2008). 4. Can you identify three local SME’s which might benefit from these lifestyle changes? How will they benefit and how? Be specific and suggest ways in which these businesses which can put innovative solutions into practice. Acacia Pharma Limited, Chroma Therapeutics Ltd. and Renovo Ltd. are the three small and medium size (SMEs) enterprises which have been considered in this study. The earnings of UK residents rely on productivity, which differs extensively between firms in a single industry. Some firms are 3 times as fruitful as their industry equivalents. Smaller firms of United States and United Kingdom are generally found to lag in context of efficiency. However, this does not denote that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) do not put in to productivity augmentation (Mole, 2002, p. 2). With passage of time, SMEs add to general UK productivity in 2 methods. (i) Small firms work as a seedbed for novelties. This seedbed role is most perceptible in small manufacturing firms who hire between five to nine workers. (ii) The increasing small firm can upset the ‘cosy relationships’ establishment within an industry, and amplify competition. (iii) Entrants contend against existing firms and bring about departure of those badly performing firms from the market (Mole, 2002, p. 3). There are 4 sources of augmented industry productivity - existing production units can boost their productivity; more fruitful firms can increase market share from less dynamic firms; new entrants can be more fruitful than existing firms; and exiting firms can be less fruitful than average (Mole, 2002, p. 4). If firms are ignorant of their rivalry then it is improbable to alter their investment behaviour. Offering information about the firm category and its comparative productivity may enhance the decision-making situation for smaller firms (Mole, 2002, p. 5). Management must observe that productivity is a trouble. Managers require to be convinced that tried and tested processes to develop productivity in their firm exist. Firms must have the reserves to put into practice implements that amplify their productivity. Reserves pertaining to financial, managerial and technical areas in the widest sense are mandatory (Mole, 2002, p. 11). References: 1. “The State of Demographic Transition in Africa”, Dec. 2001. Economic Commission for Africa. Available at: http://www.uneca.org/publications/FSSD/State_of_Demographic_Transition_in_Africa.PDF (Accessed on Jan 8, 2010). 2. “Outliving our life expectancy”, n.d. Peter Russell Spirit of Now. Available at: http://www.peterrussell.com/SP/OutliveLife.php (Accessed on Jan 8, 2010). 3. “The role culture and habit”, n.d. UNFCCC. Available at: http://unfccc.int/essential_background/feeling_the_heat/items/2910.php (Accessed on Jan 8, 2010). 4. Zahorsky, D, n.d. “Hottest Small Business Trends”. About.com. Available at: http://sbinformation.about.com/cs/bestpractices/a/aa122202a.htm (Accessed on Jan 8, 2010). 5. Mariani, F, Perez-Barahona, A, Raffin, N, Nov. 2009. “Life Expectancy and the Environment”. Available at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp4564.pdf (Accessed on Jan 8, 2010). 6. “Growing Disparities in Life Expectancy”, April 17, 2008. CBO. Available at: http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/91xx/doc9104/04-17-LifeExpectancy_Brief.pdf (Accessed on Jan 8, 2010). 7. Mole, K, Oct. 2002. “Augmenting Productivity in SMEs”. Centre for Small and Medium Size Enterprises. Warwick Business School. Available at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file38303.pdf (Accessed on Jan 8, 2010). Read More