Measurements taken by Government

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MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM IMPACT OF DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE

Measures undertaken by Governments

  • Governments of countries with low birth rates often introduce tax advantages and other financial incentives to encourage women to have more children.  

    This is the case scenario in Singapore for example.

  • Another common policy is to encourage immigration.  Both Canada and Australia have been promoting this for over a decade.

  • Governments in countries with rapidly rising populations often put in place policies to discourage large families, e.g. the “one child” policy adopted by China.

  • The increasing percentage of the population aged over 65 is creating a pensions crisis in many countries.  

    The main concern is that the taxes received from a smaller proportion of workers will be insufficient to meet the pension demands of a growing retired population without huge increases tax rates.

  • Typical government responses include rising the retirement age and encouraging private and occupational pension schemes.

  • The percentage of single-parent families in the UK rose from 7% in 1971 to 23% in 2005.  

    The UK government has focused on enabling single parents to return to work through a mixture of childcare vouchers and tax credits.

  • Among others this has created extra demand for childcare services and after-school clubs.

  • Concerns over the effects of smoking have resulted in bans on tabacco advertising on television in many countries and the ban from smoking in public in-door areas.

  • Concerns over obesity are giving rise to increasing pressure on government to legislate in a similar way in the fast food industry.

  • In the South Africa the government has put in place many initiatives to raise awareness to AIDS and sexual health.  

    The global community is under greater pressure to provide cheap drugs to help.

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