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The Life Scientific

Professor Sarah Harper on how population change is remodelling societies.

Nov 14, 2023
Professor Sarah Harper, an expert in Gerontology, discusses how population change is remodelling societies. Topics include the impact of demographic changes on society, the historical shift in retirement age, changing attitudes towards reproduction, and personal experiences with aging and retirement.
28:14

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Quick takeaways

  • Reduced fertility rates driven by improved access to family planning and education for girls are leading to a smaller global population than previously feared.
  • Increasing life expectancy and the rise of an aging population necessitate rethinking retirement and promoting lifelong education and workforce participation.

Deep dives

Changing Demographics and Population Growth

The podcast explores how changing demographics, specifically declining fertility rates, are affecting population growth. It highlights that reductions in childbearing, driven by factors such as improved access to family planning, better healthcare, and education for girls, have led to a smaller projected global population than previously feared. Additionally, it emphasizes the implications of longer life expectancy, with the number of elderly people projected to equal or surpass the number of young people. This shift in age structure will have significant societal dynamics and necessitate adaptations across various aspects of society.

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