Demography of the family

Demography of the family

1. Migration

   • Occurs because of push and pull factors
     • Push factors
       • Escape poverty
       • Unemployment
       • Persecution
     • Pull factors
       • Job opportunities
       • Study
       • Higher standars of living
       • Political/Religous freedom
       • Joining relatives
   • In 2011, the main factors for people migrating to the UK were
     • Formal education
     • Work related reasons
     • Joining their families
   • Patterns
     • Until the 1930's and during the 60s, and 70s, there was a decrease in net migration
     • During the 30s until around 1945 there was an increase in net migration
       • This was caused by WWII, as people would migrate to England to avoid Nazis prosecution
     • Since 1980, we have had a increase in net migration
     • The trend of migration in 2011 was:
       • 15% british citizens returning home
       • 1/3 were EU citizens
       • 1/3 were citizens of the new common wealth
       • 6% were citizens of old common wealth countries
   • In 2011 the main reason for emigrating was EU citizens returning to their orgin country

2. The decline in Death rate, Infant Mortality rate and Increase in Life expectancy

   • In 1902, the death rate was 18 per 1000
     • The death rate in 2010 was 9 per 1000
   • Improved hygiene, sanitation and medicine
     • Construction of the sewer system
     • Advances in science and medicine
       • Majority of death are caused by non-infectious diseases, such as Cancer
     • People better educated about the importance of hygiene
   • Health education
     • More awareness on what to look out for
       • People get themselves to a GP when something seems wrong, so diseases can be found, and treated earlier
     • Improved education on health
     • Most people now know basic first aid, and can deal with a emergency
   • Better Welfare, and Healthcare
     • Welfare system introduced in 1948
     • NHS
       • Free
       • Lead to safer, childbirths
         • Decrease in infant mortality
         • Decrease in mothers dieing during childbirth
   • Higher standards of living
     • Mckeown (1976)
       • Suggested that improvements in standards of living, and environment has lead to an increased life expectancy
     • Standards of living have improved
       • Better wages
       • Better food
       • Running hot water
       • Better knowledge of body
       • Better food technology
   • Improved working conditions
     • Technology has taken over the most dangerous jobs
     • Acts put in place to protect the rights of workers
     • Factory machinery is better and safer
     • Work is less physically demanding
     • More leisure time

3. Ageing Population

   • The average age of the populationn is getting higher
     • Larger proportion over the retirement age
       • Increase dependency ratio
   • Can lead to higher taxes on the economically active
   • Higher levels of government spending
     • Health and social services
     • Residential and nursing home increases
     • Welfare benefits
     • 42% of government spending goes to the elderly
   • Elderly relatives can help with childcare, putting less of a strain on the childcare system
   • Younger people find it harder to find homes, as the elderly live in them for longer
   • Families may have to care for their elder relatives, if their pension scheme runs dry
   • Their may be overcrowding/emotional strain if an elderly moves in with his/her children
   • There could be a return of the Classic Extended family, or an increase of Singletons

4. Decline in Birth rate, Fertilaty rate, and average family size

   • The UK's Birth rate in 2010 was 1.98
     • Similar to the high birth rates in Europe (France, Scandinavia, Ireland, Belgium)
     • Higher then that of China or Brazil
     • Lower than the USA, South Africa, India
   • Improved Contrception
     • Made it easier for couples to wait longer, before having children
     • Older couples have less children
     • Lead to improved family planning
   • Compulsory education
     • Children are no longer and economic asset
     • Children have become an economic liability
     • Parents nowadays support children into University, and therefore into their 20s
   • Declining Infant Mortality rate means that it is safer to have less children
   • Changing role of women
     • Women now have different priorities
       • No longer want to spend time on child bearing/raising
       • McRobbies (2008) argues that the common aspiration of motherhood has been replaced with the desire for qualifications
     • Many women in paid employment have to combine this with childcare, and will therefore limit the amount of children they have, or put them off until their career is established
   • Changing Values
     • Having children is now linked with a loos in lesiure time
     • Having children is linked with a loss of freedom
   • It is a lot more expensive to have children, compared with the past