The Growing Elderly Population
Age shall not weary them

In the current debate about the ageing of British society the growth in the proportion the elderly is seen in almost entirely negative terms. In Discussion Paper No. 197, Research Fellow Pat Thane argues for a less pessimistic view. She notes that the transition to an older population will be gradual and that the overall 'dependency ratio' will not rise significantly, since the number of younger dependants is also falling. Nor is there any clear evidence that as more people live to be older, health and social service costs will rise accordingly: people are remaining fitter to later ages, and there is strong evidence that they can continue to make a positive contribution to the economy as workers and as consumers until relatively late ages. Thane concludes that since the ageing of society is unavoidable we should seek ways to treat the elderly as a resource rather than viewing them as a burden.

Pat Thane discussed this research at a February lunchtime meeting, reported in Bulletin No. 19.

Economic Burden or Benefit? A Positive View of Old Age
Pat Thane

Discussion Paper No. 197, June 1987 (HR)