It is one the great European worries for the future, and has been since far away in the passed.  The concern that demographic change in developed European states will lend itself to an increase in the elderly population, confined with a decrease in the working population.  The result of this?  Not enough working people to pay for the healthcare of the elderly.  Aside the ever increasing age of retirement, there has been years of concern over what is to do done about this apparently time bomb.

However, it would seem that this is some rather positive news in regards population shift.  It would seem that fertility rates (birth per head of population) are increasing amount the British population.  This would seem to suggest that the issue may in fact not be an issue.  Combined with immigration of young Eastern Europeans there would seem to be hope that the young working population can indeed continue to supply for the old folk.  This is perhaps not that surprising, as capitalism has a tendency to supply whereas we may only demand.  But, given the social problems caused by rapid migration into a state it is comforting to know that migration can be augmented by increases in the home population. 

One might ask why the sudden increase?  Well, I’m not sure if there has been any research into the matter, but I wonder if the recession has both focused peoples minds on less economic matters, and given them to free time for more….er…leisurely pursuits…    It would indeed be in keeping with the nature of capitalism that a short term economic problem might create a long term solution.