topic 4 - demography Flashcards
(20 cards)
define birth rate
the number of live births per 1000 of the population per year
birth rate from 1900 to 2022
shows a long term decline as it has fallen from 28.7 to 1.57 in the UK
define total fertility rate
the average number of children a woman will have in her fertile years
UK’s TFR
2001 - 1.63
2014 - 1.83
2023 - 1.44
reasons reflecting TFR changes-
- more women remaining childless
- more women are postponing having children as the average age for giving birth is now 30
reasons for the decline in the birth rate
- changes in women’s position
- decline in infant mortality rate
- child=economic liability
- child centredness
- changes to women’s position
- 1970 equal pay act and 1975 sex discrimination act has encouraged more women to be in paid employment, even full time = increased career aspirations
- legal equality in terms of voting rights + divorce reform act 1969
- girls’ improving position in education especailly is an important reason according to Harper as it has led to a change in mindset both amongst girls/women but also in society
- educated women are more likely to have bigger career aspirations or delay having children
- moreover once a pattern of low fertility rises in one generation it is likely to become the norm amongst the next generations
decline in infant mortality rate
- 2025 is 3.17
- if infants are more likely to survive, parents have less incentive to have more children
it has been declining due to: - impoved housing and sanitation especially because infants are much more vulnerable to infection
- better knowledge around childrearing and necessary nutrition which is widely available
- improved services for women sych as antenatal and postnatal clinics
effects of changes in fertility
- the family
- dependency ratio
- public servies services
effects of changes in fertility to the family
- size decreases = more women able to work = dual earner couple = conujugal roles = more symmetrical families
effects of changes in fertility
dependency ratio
- children make up most of the non-working, dependent population so a fall in the birth rate reduces the burden of dependency on the working population
- however, in the long term fewer births = less children = smaller workforce
disadvantage of falling birth rate (specific one you dont usually remember)
the increase in children’s isolation and reduced presence in public life leads to the concept of “vanishing children”, where children are becoming less visible in society, both physically and culturally. As children spend more time indoors and online, often under close adult supervision, childhood becomes a more private and potentially lonelier experience.
As a result of this invisibility, fewer people are exposed to the realities of children’s lives, making them less likely to advocate for children’s rights or needs. This can contribute to the marginalisation of children’s voices in social and political discussions.
public services and policies
a falling birth rate reduces the pressure on policy makers to adhere to the needs of children as well as adults for example fewer schools, childcare benefit policies and maternal/paternal leave policies may be needed
death rate from 1900 to 2012 to 2019 (per thousand)
- 19
- 8.9
- 9.1
reasons for the overall decline in the death rate
- improved nutrition
- medical improvements and public health measures
- smoking and diet
improved nutrition and evaluation
- McKeown notes that imporved nutrition has accounted for much of the decline in death rates
- such has improved immune systems and reduced vulnerability as individuals consume healtheir foods with nutritional benefits
- increasing their survival even when infected w diseases
- HOWEVER McKeown fails to explain why females have a longer life expectancy eventhough they often have a smaller share of the family food supply
medical improvements and public health measures
- after the 1950s improved medical knowledge reduced death rates such as the introduction of antribiotics, immunisation, bloos transfusion, imporved maternity services etc as well as most importantly the establishment of the NHS in 1948 which have reduced deaths from heart disease by 1/3
- moreover political changes in the government meant that there were imporvements such as infrastructure (adequate housing, purer drinking water, imporved sweage etc)
smoking and diet
- Harper points to a reduction in the number of people smoking which has contributed to decreased deaths, however concerns around smoking have been replaced with concerns around obesity
- in 2023-2024, 64.5% of adults in England were overweight or obese
class gender and regional differences in life expectancy
- women generally live longer than men
- the North and Scotland have a lower life expecrancy
- Walker notes that those living in the poorest areas die 7 years earlier than those living in richer areas
