PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Political Impact of Demographic Change in Germany. A Summary View of the Causes and Consequences of Demographic Change in Germany and Europe In Germany, the increase of life expectancy and the rapid decline of fertility started in the 19th century. The decline of the total fertility rate accelerated since the last decade of the 19th century when the social security system was established in the framework of the social reforms introduced by Bismarck. The process of population change is still going on. Its main demographic dimensions are demographic ageing, population decline, and the internationalisation of the population process by in-migration. The societal consequences are conflicts between the old and young generations as well as conflicts within each generation between the population groups with and without children. The economic impact of demographic change is a reduction of wealth, caused by a lower growth rate of the national product and by a reduction of the growth rate of the per capita income.