How many old people can the world support?

[Atheist-Lite]

Throughout the industrial world there is a population growing old. This takes resources and is often a massive drain on friends, relatives and public authorities potentialy productive time. Is there a maximum percentage of old (I mean very old) people which a industrial society can sustain? What happens when this limit is passed? Does the productive capacity of the society go into decline and the society move towards collapse?

[Hermit]

The maximum percentage of old people which a industrial society can sustain is not writ in stone. If superannuation and other pension funds turn out to be inadequate due to incompetent management or sheer lack of foresight, elderly citizens will simply drop off the back of the sled at a greater rate (due to the lack of wherewithal that is needed to keep them alive until their organs shut down for biological reasons) than in the (financially) best case scenario.

I hope you are aware that the average life expectancy increase over decades and centuries is largely due to a decrease in infant deaths and to a lesser extent a safer work environment. The top decile of people by age has not really bumped that average up at all. Now, as a few centuries ago, your chances of reaching your centenary are minuscule, even if you only look at people who have already reached the age of 65 or 70.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Kill more people before they breed and you'll have fewer old people. And fewer middle aged people. And fewer young people. So it's a win-win for Team Dietl.

[Feck]

If we want birth rates to decrease then statistically our population is going to 'age' . Constantly increased the population just to pay for the upkeep of the older generation is not sustainable .

[maiforpeace]

If we want birth rates to decrease then statistically our population is going to 'age' . Constantly increased the population just to pay for the upkeep of the older generation is not sustainable .

The aging population is more productive and works longer than their earlier counterparts did so that should account for something.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

This is about France, isn't it?

[Rum]

Interestingly, the main force for decreasing birth rates is said by many to be the desire to be better off. It tends to be the 'middle classes' who see the financial benefits of small families and all that goes with it. The argument goes however that if you decrease overall population via this route, you will actually end up with more demand for the goods and services that the 'well off' countries take for granted as normal and which do so much to damage the planet.

[maiforpeace]

This is about France, isn't it?

Non monsieur.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

This is about France, isn't it?

Non monsieur.

Their current flail over the retirement age had me wondering.

Do carry on, chaps!

[charlou]

The opening part of Jacob Bronowski's 'Ascent of Man' series has a scene where an elder of a nomadic tribe is left on one side of a river to die while his clan crosses and moves on to better pastures .. always the struggle for survival ... Great series .. recommend it if you can get hold of it.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The opening part of Jacob Bronowski's 'Ascent of Man' series has a scene where an elder of a nomadic tribe is left on one side of a river to die while his clan crosses and moves on to better pastures .. always the struggle for survival ... Great series .. recommend it if you can get hold of it.

The Plains Indians used to leave frail elders under a bush when they migrated. It was, supposedly, the elder's call when she/he could no longer keep up with the tribe.

[Feck]

African hunting dogs look after their elders ,even to the point of feeding them like pups with pre- chewed meat .Seems the amount of food expended to look after the elderly is paid back by the old ones in experience and child care ......

so dump your kids at grannies house and get out there and hunt . (or in my neighbour hood dump the kids with granny and get out there shoplifting or streetwalking to pay for the drugs ).

[Xamonas Chegwé]

[kiki5711]

NOOOOO! Do not dump your kids at grammas!!! TAke care of them yourself, just like your momma had to do!!! Now is gramma's turn to actually get a life.

[Atheist-Lite]

I just think there is a major problem coming with a massive and growing number of people in their 60s, 70s, 80s who lets be frank are past it and they will require supporting by a ever a decreasing pool of younger people, because of a declining birth rates throughout the industrialised world. You can't keep importing people from the second and third world to supply the shortfall, although this is happening right now, since they have their own societies to deal with. I think there must be a inflection point in this coming where things must change, and rapidly, to resolve what is a building impasse?