Professor Sarah Harper, the director of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, addressed current societal concerns regarding an ageing population and declining birth rates during a recent seminar. She helped put into context some anxieties over Covid-19, the climate crisis, and overpopulation that could lead individuals or couples to choose not to have kids. Yet, she argues, these fears can’t cloud the extraordinary promise presented by today’s more educated and healthier gray older population.
“Today, most young women do not believe that being a mother defines who you are as a woman,” said Harper. More than ever, women are reimagining what it means to be a mother. Add to that a lot of financial insecurity about retirement, and many people are deciding to not have children. There’s just always going to be that cohort, and I expect that that cohort is going to get larger, of women who’ve made a decision that they, for all kinds of reasons, are not going to bear children. Like that, you know, we have to kind of understand that and play into that,” she explained.
The professor highlighted the opportunities that come with an ageing society. He reminded us that Americans are living longer, many of them needing care as they cross into their 80s and 90s. She is convinced that this demographic transition opens up significant opportunities. Harper said, “There are some challenges [to an ageing population], but there are huge opportunities and rather than try and resist it, or stop it, or divert it we should be looking for those opportunities, because we have this massive cohort of healthy, active, older, creative adults.”
As Harper writes, the UK faces considerable population growth from both migration and ageing. By 2072 about a quarter of the UK is projected to be 65 or over. She noted that many countries around the world, including two-thirds of them, already face fertility rates below the replacement level necessary to maintain their populations.
Harper commented on the archaic idea that high fertility rates are a matter of national security. “Actually, we don’t need any more. The world has changed,” she stated. This perspective aligns with her belief that supporting women who wish to have children requires providing access to good jobs, affordable housing, quality childcare, and gender equality.
Harper trumpeted the amazing talent pool of older adults in the workforce. She called people between the ages of 50 and 70 an “incredible asset,” citing their lack of valuable skills created by a knowledge-based economy. She argued that their contributions could significantly enhance various sectors if society learns to embrace this demographic rather than view it as a burden.
In her analysis of pension reform, Harper suggested that linking state pensions to national insurance contributions rather than age could provide a more sustainable solution. She remarked that current pension systems are struggling to accommodate those who retire at 60. In some states, these new retirees can expect to live another 40 years.
Furthermore, Harper stressed the importance of addressing inequalities in health and education to ensure that all older adults can contribute meaningfully to society. “What we should be doing is saying there are ways that we can support those, particularly women, who want to have children, and that’s around things like good jobs, good housing, good childcare, good gender equality,” she explained.
Harper admitted he was inspired by successful models in other countries. He noted that even Scandinavian countries, paragons of gender equality and family-friendly fertility-boosting policies haven’t managed to maintain their fertility rates above replacement levels. This observation points to the growing contradiction between our country’s support for family life and societal attitudes toward career goals.