Italy's Population Problems

Today, many countries are suffering from population problems; these problems are either too much or too little, and countries around the world are trying to fix these problems to improve their population. All countries have different problems from the others. If we focus in Europe we can see Italy has many kinds of population problems that affect the people, from north of the country to south of the country. People in Italy should find solutions for their population problems very quickly, because first they have the lowest birth rate and more old people; “In Italy, a country with the lowest birth rate and fastest ageing population in Europe.” (Smith, 2003, para 1). Second, they have economy problems and jobless; "Italy has one of the lowest employment rates in Europe - just 55%. "(Italians fear a poor old age, 2007, para 31). Third, there are big numbers of students who don’t go to school; “The report found that 21 percent of young people drop out of school, compared with a European average of 15 percent "(Italy: ever older, south ever poorer, 2007, para 10).
There is some information about Italy's population; "Demographic and Health Indicators: 1- Total Population (in thousands of people): in 1950: 47104, in 2002: 57449 and in 2025 (projected): 52364.2-Population Density (people per square km), 2000:191.3-Average Annual Population Growth Rate, 1980-2000 Total: In rural areas:0%, and in urban areas :0.1%. 4-Percentage of Population: Under age 15, 2002: 14%, Over age 65, 2002: 19%, and Living in Urban Areas, 2000: 67 %. 5-Average Total Fertility Rate {a}: in 1975-1980: 2, and in 2000-2005:1. Infant Mortality Rate {b}, 2000-2005:5, Under-Five Mortality Rate {b}, 2000:6. Life Expectancy at birth (years), 2000-05: Male: 76, Female: 82". (Population, Health and Human Well-being, 2006).

The first problem is its low birth rate; Italy has a very low number of children, and they suffer from low birth rate and high rate of old people. In fact, there are big numbers of old people, more than young people; “Italy has the highest ageing index in the European Union, since it counts 141 people over 65 for every 100 who are under 18” (Italy: ever older, south ever poorer, 2007, para 4). So, there are several ways to solve this problem. Government should encourage women to get more babies to increase the birth rate; “It an idea now being tried by a number of other Italian cities in the hope that offering more support for mothers will encourage them to have more children" (Europe's baby shortage crisis, 2001, para 14). For example, if the government gives money for the families who have children that will help women to get more children; also, the money will be different from child to child; for the second child the government should give the family more money than for the first child; this idea will help to increase the population in Italy. There is another solution; the a government must put a penalty for families who have few children to increase the birth rate, and for example, if a family has less than two children, then they should pay a fine. Also, there is an idea that says government has to get a certain number of children that each coupe should have it; this idea is useful to increase the population rate and we can know the number of children in the future. Women who get married late don't have a chance to have a lot of children; "cynthia Palozzi, 35, an insurance clerk who lives with her boyfriend, is typical of the women who are choosing not to have children" (Europe’s baby shortage crisis, 2001, para 8), so people should marry early to get more children. Certainly, having more children is very beneficial for the society; these more children will support old people, especially in Italy with a big number of old people. For example, children can help old people in different things: work, taking care of their health, and bringing what they need for their life. Finally, government should use these solutions to solve this problem; the numbers are increasing;"In Italy, a country with the lowest birth rate and fastest ageing population in Europe" (smith, 2003, para 1).

The second problem is, that Italy suffers from low economy, because there are not enough young people to fill all jobs;" You have a lot of very old people. At the same time, the level of fertility is constantly decreasing, so there aren't enough people who are starting to work who are going to sustain the system" (Pike, 2003, para 12). Also they have low employment rate, according to the article Italians fear a poor old age;" Italy has one of the lowest employment rates in Europe - just 55%". So, there are many solutions the government should use. First, the government should offer good jobs and salaries for people to encourage these people to work, and also the government should solve the low pension problems; “…a huge number of people who would enter the workplace at a lower cost, at the risk of having a much lower pension in the future" (Pike, 2003, para 28), these will help to improve the economy in Italy. Second, the government should let people work longer and raise the age of retirement; "One idea is to raise the minimum retirement age to 62"(Pike, 2003, para 21); for example, when the government gives the old worker a longer time, and gives them more money to encourage them to work especially, because there are not enough young people, that will help the economy of the country to improve and also get experience from these workers. Another solution is the Italian companies should get more experience from companies out of Italy; for example, the companies in Italy should send there workers to work in companies in Europe, America, and Asia for a while to get more experience that can help the economy in Italy. Finally, without enough people the economy in Italy will suffer and this problem is very dangerous for the country; the government in Italy should take this problem a series problem and solve it.

The third problem is, students don't go to school; students have to get more education; the number of students who drop out of school is increasing. According to the article "Italy: ever older, south ever poorer": “The report found that 21 percent of young people drop out of school, compared with a European average of 15 percent (2007, para 10). The Italian families have to return these students to school by giving them education and telling them how important school is. Also the government has to help these students by giving them pensions and free education. Finally, school is very important and the students should return to school and get more education and knowledge to improve their country. On the other hand, when the students drop out of school, probably they don’t have a chance to work in professional works for example, doctor, nurse, engineer, pilot, and pharmacist. These jobs are very important and useful for the economy of the country; and also because Italy has work labor force problems, so, as a result people will not work at these jobs and they work in a simple works that will not help the economy. Government should pay attention for this problem and should engorge these students to return to schools.

The opposite idea says, that people in Italy get one child and they just care about this child; "The Italians spend more on baby clothes and toys than any other Europeans, but they have fewer babies" (Smith, 2003, para 4). Also the fathers and mothers really care about everything that the child needs and they get just one baby to give this baby the best stuff; "People prefer to just have one so they can give the child everything - the best schools, the best clothes, the best everything" (Smith, 2003, para 14). Offering the best things for the child is a good idea from the fathers and the mothers about their children, but getting one child per couple is a big problem and Italy's population will suffer, because children are very necessary for our life; for example, when people get more children; these children will be very useful even for their parents or for the country, for the parents, children can support their parents especially when they get old; children can help them in their work, take care for them, and anything they need. Also, children are an important factor to increase the economy of the country. Because they can shear more ideas and information also Italy suffers from low birth rate, so it many jobs will be empty without workers, because there are not enough young people. In the end, getting more children is the best way to solve the population problems.

In conclusion, there are big numbers of counties, which have population problems. Population problems are very common, and countries have to pay attention to these problems. Italy has different kinds of population problems that are increasing. The government and the people in Italy should find solutions to their population problems; especially, in the low birth rate, low economy, and the students who drop out of school.



Reference:

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Freund, M. (2007, January 10). Say Goodbye to Europe.
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Italy: ever older, south ever poorer. (2007, May 24).
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Pike, R. (2003, June 3). Italians fear a poor old age. BBC
News. Retrieved July 7, 2007 from
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Population, Health and Human Well-being, (2006) from
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Births. BBC News. Retrieved July 7, 2007 from
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