“Of all the demographic challenges nations face, ageing is the most serious.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Refer to Paper 2 section C markbands (available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials).

Perspectives on what constitutes a demographic challenge will vary as they are likely to be place- and time-specific. Responses may tackle the question on a regional or global scale and a clear understanding of the terms “ageing population” (an increase in the percentage of the population over 65) and “demographic challenge” should be evident, although not explicitly outlined.

Possible applied themes (AO2) demonstrating knowledge and understanding (AO1):

• Ageing may produce demographic challenges that can be seen as negative such as socio-economic impacts, including dependency, grey economy, pensions, tax rates, health care etc [Unit 1:3]
• Ageing may produce positive socio-economic impacts such as employment opportunities, the grey economy, reduced crime rates etc [Unit 1:3]
• Other aspects of population structure may cause demographic challenges such as youthful populations, gender imbalances, needs of special groups (disability and HIV) [Unit 1:3]
• Population movements may produce demographic challenges – forced and voluntary migrations, rapid/large scale population growth in urban areas [Unit 1:2]
• Population change and resource consumption and neo-Malthusian ideas of over-population [Unit 3:3]

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) which assesses the relative seriousness of the consequences of a population ageing in different places and the possibilities of managing ageing populations. Another approach might be to focus on other demographic challenges identified above and an explanation as to why these are very serious and ageing is less so.

For 5–6 marks
Expect some outlining of the consequences of an ageing population and/or an alternate demographic challenge. The response is partial, narrow or lacks supporting evidence.

For 7–8 marks
Expect a well-structured account which includes:

• either a well-evidenced synthesis which links together several well evidenced ageing and demographic themes from the Guide
• or a critical conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) informed by geographical concepts and/or perspectives.

For 9–10 marks
Expect both traits.

This was the most popular choice in section C and there were some good answers that addressed the whole question. In the better answers the discussion of 'to what extent' took a variety of formats with candidates frequently outlining the challenges of ageing populations in an initial section using Japan, Germany, the UK and Italy as examples. Challenges were usually based on the impacts of ageing on economic development, social care and benefits. In many cases these challenges were then compared to the positives presented by an ageing population such as employment opportunities and the grey economy. Further analysis of demographic challenge was included by reference to other age-specific challenges such as youthful populations and gender inequality. Broader answers examined the challenges produced by international migration and urban growth, particularly megacities. A small number viewed demographic challenges as population growth in relation to resources. Candidates were not able to consider all of these but a developed discussion of a small number in relation to ageing fulfilled the requirement of the essay. However, many essays ignored the invitation to discuss and gave an overview of ageing societies that was typically structured around their causes, consequences and management using a developed case study. There were some interesting answers that took a national focus, usually China, and discussed changing demographic challenges over time.