Sociology 1020 Chapter Notes - Chapter 21: Intergenerational Equity, Pension, Population Ageing
18 Oct 2016
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Chapter 21-> Population and Politics: Voodoo Demography, Population Aging, and Canadian
Society
Ellen M. Gee
• Apocalyptic demography: oversimplified idea that population aging has catastrophic
consequences for a society
o Embraces the view the increasing numbers of older people will bankrupt a
society, due to their incessant demands on the health-care system and on public
pensions
o aging society enacts an unfair price on the younger population, who have to pay
to meet the needs to the burgeoning number of elders
▪ intergenerational equity
o image that elders are well-off
▪ “greedy geezers”
• 5 themes can be detected from the examples of apocalyptic demography in newspapers
1. homogenization of the persons on the basis of age
a. they are ‘comfortably well-off’
2. age-blaming
3. shifting age structure is considered to be a significant social problem
4. intergenerational injustice
a. an aging population exacts an unfair toll on its younger members
5. intertwining of population aging and social policy concerns
• 2 other examples of apocalyptic demography mixed with politics
1. eugenics movement in Canada
a. control of reproduction was viewed as a way to preserve and
improve the white race by targeting non-whites and ‘less
desirable’ whites in lowering fertility
2. ‘population bomb’ in developing countries after WW2
a. Western countries defined the problem as a ‘bomb’ that should be
detonated with the use of birth control
b. Large amounts of money were put into this
• Pensions and the aging population
o Pension area brings out 2 of the strongest images of apocalyptic demography
1. Elderly as well-heeled “greedy geezers”
2. Intergenerational injustice
o The “greedy geezer” stereotype is not true
▪ The Canadian aged as a whole are not rich
▪ Many need GIS to stay out of poverty and many are in poverty even with
the GIS
▪ Poverty continues to plague older unattached women, of whom nearly ½
live below the poverty line
o The transfer of potential pension benefits to other areas besides the pension of
elders gives a false representation of how much seniors get
o Contributions rate are very low
o Seniors receive very little benefits
o The RRSPs would be preferred, allow evidence suggests RRSPs will not play
major role in pensions
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