Demographic Transition

Demographic transition is, simply put, the shifting age structure of a population, as increasing numbers of infants reach adulthood, middle, and old age. Along with demographic transition come different developments in infrastructure, education, and urbanization. At the root of demographic transition are developments in medical care which affect the population from the bottom up. Where child mortality is high population structure has the shape of a pyramid with progressively fewer people in each older age group. But these days because of better public health initiatives that protect young children there is a bulge of greater numbers in the younger categories moving up through the pyramid. Baby boomers, we were part of a bulge too.

Some political scientists think that if a government doesn't meet the needs of the surge in young adults the demographic transition can lead to widespread discontent, mass unemployment, and alienated youth. Some political scientists point to the rise of Hitler as influenced by this sort of demographic transition and more currently the formation of paramilitary groups in countries like Afghanistan where young adults make up more than 50% of the population, prime recruits for the Taliban.

The youth bulge can also foster fast economic growth as young people fuel the future economy. They can be the biggest part of a strong workforce and tend to be high consumers. I think about how frequently they get new high tech devices like phones and tablets.

But back to the bulge I belong to, the one with older people who used to be those young restless adults, the ones who kept our nation economically dynamic in our youth. We must continue to be a valued resource and not a burden in order to keep our nation strong and successful.