Demography - Birth and Death Rates (Edexcel A-Level Sociology): Revision Notes

Demography - Birth and Death Rates

Births

• There has been a long-term decline in the birth rate.
• Total fertility rate shows that more women are remaining childless or postponing having children
• In 2012 1 in 5 women aged 45 were childless

Reasons:

1. Changes in the position of women. Harper - girls now have higher aspirations due to more opportunities in education. As a result, girls' priorities are changing to wanting a career, as they now see other possibilities in life, rather than the traditional role of housewife and mother. Due to this, women are delaying having children to pursue a career, or not having children at all.

2. Children are now an economic liability Due to child protection laws such as laws banning child labour and compulsory education until the age of 18, children are no longer economic assets as they are unable to be sent out to work from an early age to earn an income. As a result, it is becoming more expensive to raise children as they have gradually become an economic liability. Therefore, due to these financial pressures, parents are less able/ willing to have a large family.

This has led to a rise in child-centeredness as parents would prefer to spend more on the few children they do have, in order to give them a better quality of life

Impact:

1. The dependency ratio increases. The dependent population are reliant on the working population for support. The birth rate declining means that there will be a smaller working population in the future and so the burden of dependency will rise
2. Less need for as many public services such as schools, as there are fewer children, less schools may be required so some schools may close, fewer teachers required, and job losses.
3. More women may be free to work as family size decreases

Deaths

• There has been a decline in the death rate
• There has been a decline in the infant mortality rate
• There has been an increase in life expectancy

Reasons:

1. Medical improvements. More access to better medicines in today's society so more able to tackle diseases through vaccinations and antibiotics. Helps people to die later and live longer
2. Improved working conditions. Jobs are now safer as there are health and safety measures in place.
3. People now earn higher incomes, which allows them to live a healthier lifestyle, perhaps exercise more and have a better diet.

Class and gender differences:

• Working-class men are nearly 3x more likely to die before reaching 65 than middle-class men. There are class differences in death rate and life expectancy.
• Women generally live longer than men