The ageing of the population and attitudes to immigration

Large numbers of immigrants have a considerable effect on the size of the population but very little effect on its age structure. Despite this demographic fact, many advocates argue that high immigration is an effective way to keep a population young. New survey data show that they may have had some influence on public attitudes. Worry about the ageing of the population ranked among the top three concerns held by Australian voters in 2005, and those who had this concern tended to be more supportive of immigration than those who did not.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner.

Large numbers of immigrants have a considerable effect on the size of the population but very little effect on its age structure. Despite this demographic fact, many advocates argue that high immigration is an effective way to keep a population young. New survey data show that they may have had some influence on public attitudes. Worry about the ageing of the population ranked among the top three concerns held by Australian voters in 2005, and those who had this concern tended to be more supportive of immigration than those who did not.

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