Aging population

Description:

Aging population is the driving force which for example is driving Europe to accept Turkey into the EU. With the advances in medicine the population of the world is living longer which means that the world needs more resources to support this population. Alhtough the birth rate is diminishing around the world. Resources are limited and therefore one day they will end.

Enablers:

   1.Health care development

An improved health care system will positively influence the aging of the world's population. Especially for the developing countries in which the health care infrastructure offers a lot of room for improvement, a better supply of medicine and a higher rate of doctors and hospitals will lead to higher life expectancy than today.

   2.Nutrition

Improved food availability and nutrition will positively influence the aging of the world's population. This is the case for all regions around the world but especially for developing countries.

Inhibitors:

   1. Global Terrorism and war

Due to worldwide terrorism and war the development of better health care systems and a better access to food and nutrition would be slowed down if not even hampered. More money would be spent on arming forces instead of improving medical and health infrastructure.

   2. HIV/AIDS distribution

HIV/AIDS has a strong impact on the aging population. The disease is most prevalent in low-income countries with rampant poverty, deficient health care systems and relatively low life expectancies and survival rates. A higher rate of HIV infections and AIDS mortality would at least slow down the aging of the world's population.

Paradigms:

Old: Our social structure of society will not change dramatically.

New: The aging of our population will drastically change our way of living, the perception of age and the social interaction.

Experts:

Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)

Timing:

http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/pdf/80chapterii.pdf

Web Resources:

Useful resources on the web relating to this force.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_expectancy

http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/

http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbpyr.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0422/p20s01-wmgn.html

http://econwpa.wustl.edu:80/eps/hew/papers/0405/0405001.pdf