UK in the 21st Century Flashcards
Why does the UK have a housing shortage?
- new housing needs planning permission
- land around many cities are protected by green belts
- the price of land keeps increasing so they hold onto it for longer hoping it rises more
Population trend in the UK
-about 65 million and still rising
-predicted to reach 70 million by 2030
Reasons for population growth
-until the 1990s population growth was natural
-most of the growth now is net migration
-this was due to the expansion of the European Union from 2004-2007
-leading to increasing migration from Eastern Europe
Life expectancy
-average for a boy is 79
-average for a girl is 83
Stages of old age
1) active retirement
2) semi-independence
3) dependence
Healthy life expectancy
the age up to which people remain fit and active
Costs of an ageing population UK
-more government money from taxes goes towards pensions
-the NHS needs more money
-more money has to be spent on the elderly
-people who look after elderly family members have less time to work
-the more spent on the elderly the less that can go towards education etc
Response to the ageing population UK
Industrial decline in Merthyr Tydfil
-in the 19th century the ironworks in Merthyr were one of the largest in the world
-when ironworks closed coal mining employed loads of men in the 20th century
-after coal mining declined in the 20th century a large hoover factory employed 5000 people
-the factory closed in 2009 putting 400 unemployed
Part-time work
allows workers to fit in family responsibilities,study or do another job
Flexi-time
allows workers to choose when to start and finish work within set limits
Job-sharing
two people share the same job which allows workers to share the load of a full time job
Zero-hours contract
an arrangement for people to be available for work but without fixed hours and without pay when there is no work
Homeworking
allows workers to spend work time away from the workplace working from a computer
