Topic: In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing. What problems will this cause for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing populations
Many developed countries are experiencing substantial increases in life expectancy. This problem can lead to various negative impacts on people and society and there are several necessary measures could be taken by governments and individuals to tackle with this.
The most obvious issue associated with this increase is that the more old people are, the more pressure governments will be under. It is said that this will put a heavy burden on the healthcare system. Because the old are more vulnerable to chronic diseases, such as heart attack, diabetes, that requires special medical treatments to be effectively treated. Then, the governments have to pay for numerous healthcare expenses in order to meet the growing demands of the old population. Another problem of the gradual increase in old population is that more people of retirement age will be eligible to receive a pension. This will reduce the percentage of people of working age who pay a income tax. On top of this, due to the combination of higher pension spending for the retired and lower tax revenues, it has created enormous financial burdens.
It is suggested that some following solutions should be taken in order to solve this problem. In the first place, governments can consider to increase the retirement age for working adults, perhaps from 65 to 70. For instance, in France, the retirement age raises to 67 years old. Another measure to deal with the increasing life expectancy is that governments should encourage immigration. This can increase the number of working adults who pay taxes and the young labour in the future. Last but not least, it is necessary to educate people about the importance of pay income taxes, which can help to reduce the the burden on governments spending. People should be aware of the importance of money management and saving for retirement.
In conclusion, both individuals and governments should join hands to tackle with the problem that a country deals with an ageing population.