In many countries the proportion of older people is steadily increasing. Some think this is good, while others believe this is a problem for a country. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

In many countries the proportion of older people is steadily increasing. Some think this is good, while others believe this is a problem for a country. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

 

Ielts Essay Aged population proportion 

In recent years as the technology fuelled medical care has facilitated longevity, many countries across the globe are witnessing a demographic shift leaning in favor of elderly people. This has intrigued several social scientists, as they set out to unravel the associated benefits and drawbacks of such a trend.

It will be not be very hard to enumerate the brighter side of this phenomenon: an increasing proportion of aged people in the society means more and more people with enhanced and seasoned expertise. Such people have spent a life working in their realms and are well-entrenched with the knowledge of their realms. These people even after retiring from their jobs have been contributing to the society by not only working for much less money but also passing down their knowhow to the younger generation.

Notwithstanding the meager benefits accrued by the society, a higher ratio of elderly population has become a nightmare of sorts for the economies, a cause of fiscal strain - even the rich nations are feeling the brunt, since the governments of such countries must allocate higher financial outlay for health care and old-age support services of the senior citizens; thus causing a steep rise in the public spending. It predisposes higher tax burdens on the young tax payers.

Moreover, higher proportion of elderly individuals in a society means a certain slow down of the economy in the long run. The skills pools of such countries face a structured deficit of trained and able bodied manpower that eventually casts an evil shadow on the economic progress; thereby putting the very future of a country in a grave danger.

Hence, I personally feel, higher percentage of aged individuals in the society is undoubtedly a sign of problems to be encountered in future. Ways should be found to arrest the trend of fast dwindling ratio of younger population, or this may threaten the future of the society, as well as the economies.