Starzenie się populacji Finlandii w ujęciu przestrzennym – ocena zastosowania wybranych wskaźników

Abstract

Finland is one of the most rapidly ageing countries. In 2009 the share of the elderly (aged 60 and over) amounted to more than 24% of the population. According to population projections the elderly will constitute almost one third of the Finnish population in the year 2020. Moreover, it is estimated that in the year 2060 there will be fewer than two persons of working age per one pen- sioner. The further increase in the share of the elderly will cause certain economic consequences, especially: labour force shortages and the rise in government's expenditures on pensions and other forms of care and support for the elderly that are part of the social policy. The aim of the paper is to analyse spatial diversity of the dynamic and advancement of demo- graphic ageing in Finland. Indicators used in the study are: the share of the elderly in the whole population, ageing index, old – age dependency ratio, parent support ratio, intensity of ageing, alternative ageing index, synthetic ageing index. The indicators were evaluated in the context of information provided by them and their utility in the identification of demographically young and old areas. The choice of population groups and age spans in the construction of the indicators as well as the comparison of the spatial distribution of indicators” values enable to conclude about the changes in the level of births, diversity within the elderly subpopulation, influence of pull and push factors on the migration behaviours of young people from different areas, economic conse- quences of certain age structure of population, dynamics of the demographic ageing process and its future development. Spatial approach allows both to notice the regional differences in the age structure of the Fin- nish population and identify the conditions underlying the demographic ageing process as well as to extract the problematic areas (what becomes essential in planning actions and investments in social security system). The final dimension of the economic consequences of demographic ageing mostly depends on actions taken by the government – efficiency in identification of the problem, Tightness of decisions as well as consistency in implemented policies.