Around the world, people are now living longer than ever before in the past. Some say an ageing population creates problems for governments. Others believe there are benefits to society having more elderly people. To what extent do the advantages of possessing an ageing population outweigh the disadvantages?
In the past few decades, there has been a notable rise in the life expectancies of citizens in many nations. Many people contend that this trend raises some challenges for the governments while others argue on the societal merits in possessing an elderly population. In my opinion, an ageing demographics could prove beneficial to the betterment of the society and is a positive shift overall.
The people who advocate that an ageing population raise concerns emphasize on the increased financial burden on the government. When people grow old, they retire from their daily jobs and subsequently, disengage from directly contributing to the growth of their country. Moreover, the government is obliged to provide the elderly people with medical supports, social insurances as well as retirement pensions. Therefore, the governments have to set aside a significant portion of their budget to take care of their senior citizens.
Nonetheless, it is observed that an increased number of elderly people in a society could positively impact future generations. Children who live close to their grandparents are more likely to respect their elders and uphold their social values when they grow up. Also, elderly people could mentor youngsters and prepare them to overcome the obstacles of life with their extensive experiences and knowledge. For instance, in countries like Japan, where life expectancy is the highest have exemplar social cohesion between their people.
In conclusion, it is believed by some people that an ageing population would lead to governmental concerns though others contend on its social merits. In my perspective, the societal advantages of this trend in molding a responsible and respectful society subside any associated downsides.