Question 1

If an older woman is Hispanic and unmarried, she is likely to experience what?

Accepted Answer

According to research, Hispanic women are more likely to experience poverty in later life due to factors such as lower educational attainment and lack of access to retirement savings. Being unmarried can also contribute to financial instability in old age.

Question 2

What strongly affected China's current demographic profile?

Accepted Answer

China's one child policy, which was implemented in 1979 and lasted until 2015, strongly affected the country's current demographic profile by resulting in a lower birth rate and an aging population. The policy limited families to having only one child, which led to a decrease in the fertility rate and an increase in the number of elderly individuals compared to the working-age population.

Question 3

A country's demographers estimate that in 25 years, 45% of the population will be 65 or older. What factor is likely to have contributed to this age structure?

Accepted Answer

Reduction in infectious diseases likely led to increased life expectancy and a higher proportion of older individuals in the population. The other options listed do not have a significant impact on population age structure.

Question 4

How can medical practices vary geographically in a region?

Accepted Answer

Medical practices can vary geographically in a region based on factors such as expense and efficiency. For example, more urban areas may have access to more technologically advanced equipment and higher-priced medical services, while rural areas may have limited access to medical care due to lack of funding or healthcare providers. Additionally, healthcare providers in different regions may have different approaches to treating certain conditions, which can affect the types of services offered in those areas.

Question 5

What is the difference between a pre-funded model and a "pay-as-you-go" system for social safety net programs?

Accepted Answer

In a "pay-as-you-go" system, the current workers' contributions are used to pay the benefits of current retirees, meaning entitlements indeed come from the current earnings of other people. In contrast, a pre-funded model involves setting aside funds during a worker's career to finance their own benefits upon retirement, rather than relying on future workers' contributions.

Question 6

According to the modernization theory of aging, what condition describes the change in status of older people?

Accepted Answer

According to modernization theory of aging, the change in status of older people is that their contributions are devalued as modernization and industrialization lead to a shift towards valuing productivity and youthfulness.

Question 7

______ policies encourage citizens to have more children.

Accepted Answer

Pronatalist policies are those that encourage or incentivize citizens to have more children. These policies can take many forms, such as tax credits or cash incentives for families with multiple children, maternity and paternity leave, and family-friendly workplaces. By contrast, population pyramid and elderly dependency are demographic concepts describing the structure of a population, while entitlement refers to government-funded programs that provide benefits to eligible individuals or groups.

Question 8

Most demographers agree that a large base of working young people and a small group of elderly people who require social services is what kind of condition?

Accepted Answer

A population with a large base of working young people and a small group of elderly people who require social services is considered to be an ideal condition because the young people can contribute significantly to the economy and workforce, providing resources for the elderly population. This demographic structure also allows for a sustainable social service system where resources are not stretched too thin.

Question 9

Why are population pyramids useful for social scientists?

Accepted Answer

Population pyramids provide information on the age and gender distribution of a population, which can be used to predict the timing and rate of population aging. This information is important for social scientists in understanding the potential demand on resources such as healthcare and pensions, as well as for policymakers in developing policies to address these challenges.

Question 10

Iker runs errands for his parents and fixes all the issues around the house for them. What kind of intergenerational help is Iker transferring?

Accepted Answer

Iker is providing instrumental help, which refers to practical assistance with tasks and chores, such as running errands and fixing things around the house. Emotional support (C) involves providing comfort or reassurance to a family member in need, while material help (D) involves providing financial or material resources. Informational help (B) involves sharing knowledge or advice with a family member.

Question 11

Marwa always explains how to use a smartphone and access the Internet to her grandparents and great-aunt. What kind of intergenerational support is Marwa giving?

Accepted Answer

Marwa is providing informational help by explaining to her grandparents and great-aunt how to use a smartphone and access the Internet.

Question 12

How do men and women differ in their experiences when part of an older population?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that older women are more likely to be poorer than older men, as they tend to have lower lifetime earnings and longer gaps in employment due to caregiving responsibilities. This can lead to fewer financial resources in their old age.

Question 13

Jana just became a citizen of a country and is granted the right to participate in a program that will give her a pension when she retires. What is this kind of program also known as?

Accepted Answer

An entitlement program is a government program that provides benefits to eligible citizens who meet certain criteria. Social security, which provides a pension to retirees, is an example of an entitlement program.

Question 14

What age group may have the highest medical expenditures?

Accepted Answer

The "oldest-old" age group, typically those aged 85 and older, often have the highest medical expenditures due to increased healthcare needs and chronic conditions associated with advanced age.

Question 15

If half of a population is above the age of 29, age 29 is the ______.

Accepted Answer

The fact that half of the population is above the age of 29 means that age 29 is the median age of the population (i.e. the age at which half of the population is younger and half is older). It has no relation to population size, mortality rate, or fertility rate.

Question 16

A country has a low fertility rate and a high life expectancy, but does not have an aging population. What could explain this?

Accepted Answer

An influx of immigrants could explain the low fertility rate and high life expectancy without an aging population, as the immigrants could be younger and have higher fertility rates.

Question 17

Why does population aging occur?

Accepted Answer

Population aging occurs as a result of declining fertility and mortality rates. When both of these rates decline, the number of older people in a population increases, leading to population aging. This trend is particularly evident in countries with advanced healthcare and social welfare systems.

Question 18

If a nation has a fast-growing demographic of adults older than 65 years while all other age demographics keep the same rate of growth, what is occurring?

Accepted Answer

A fast-growing demographic of adults older than 65 years while all other age demographics keep the same rate of growth indicates population aging. This means that a higher percentage of the population is in the elderly category, which can have significant effects on healthcare, social services, and the economy.

Question 19

Liqin frequently helps his grandparents pay their bills and groceries. What kind of intergenerational transfer of help is Liqin doing?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Liqin frequently helps his grandparents pay their...

Question 20

What has kept the United States from placing high on a list of aged populations?

Accepted Answer

The influx of immigrants has kept the population younger in the United States. Immigrants tend to be of childbearing age and have higher fertility rates, contributing to a higher birth rate overall in the country.

Quiz 6: Preparing for Aging Societies