NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
... such as London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester etc, (M. Christopher & M. Mcdonald, 1995) Some examples in the USA include Changing Age Structure Most consumer goods and services tend to be aimed at the needs of a particular age group rather than at the population as a whole.
Firms tend to concentrate their efforts. During the 1990 's, for the first time in the history of the US, there were more Americans over age 30 than under 30. The U. S.
population is growing older for three major reasons: (1) the birth rate has been slowly declining (so there are fewer young people to "pull down" the average age), (2) people are living longer (so there are more older people pulling up the average age), and (3) "Baby Boomers" (which make up almost 1 / 3 of the U. S. population) are now ALL older than 35 years. Let's take a look at how the U. S. population make-up is predicted to change over the next 50 years.
The following table was created from information on the U. S. Census website on 6 / 27 / 97. Age Group 1998 2000 2005 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 Under 13 13. 2 13. 1 12. 5 12. 0 12. 0 12. 0 11. 9 12. 1 14 to 118 to 2125 to 34 14. 4 13. 6 12. 7 12. 9 13. 3 12. 3 12. 4 12. 5 35 to 44 16. 4 16. 3 14. 7 12. 9 12. 3 12. 8 11. 9 12. 0 45 to 54 12. 8 13. 5 14. 5 14. 6 11. 7 11. 2 11. 8 11. 0 55 to 64 8. 4 8. 7 10. 4 11. 9 12. 9 10. 5 10. 2 10. 8 65 to 710. 8 8. 9 8. 8 75 to 885 & ove Source: web The most significant demographic event to occur in the United States during the 20 th century was the "Baby Boom" which occurred following World War II and lasted until 1964.
During this time, 78 million Americans were born. With their larger families, American wage earners moved out of the cities and into the suburbs, where affordable housing was available in places such as "Levittowns" scattered throughout the country. The migration to the suburbs put pressure on communities to provide needed social services -- schools, police and fire departments, garbage removal, etc. -- as well increasing the demand for land that was once used for farming. Arable land became housing developments. During this period, again for the first time in our history, there were more people living in cities and suburbs than were farming the land. Life expectancy for Americans is increasing, too, and also has contributed significantly to the aging of our population.
Senior citizens (those 65 years of age and older) now constitute the fastest-growing age segment in our population, and this trend will have a major impact on the demand for social services. As this group makes up the highest percentage of voters, you can expect major legislation on social security, Medicare and Medicaid, and other senior services to be forthcoming. The amount of money subtracted from your paycheck for social security benefits can only increase, as there will be fewer working people to support a growing senior population. Major medical procedures (such as heart transplants and hip replacements), which only a few years ago would not have been performed on senior citizens, are now conducted routinely, improving both longevity and the quality of life. But, such advancements do not come without cost. After all, there is "no free lunch!" Increasing Education The U.
S. population is becoming more educated. More than one source has noted something to the effect that "a bachelor's degree today is like a high school diploma 25 years ago -- everyone has one!" While that's not quite true, as of 1995, 46 % of our population over the age of 25 had attended some college. Better-educated people will increase the demand for quality products, books, magazines, and travel.
It also suggests a decline in television viewing because college-educated consumers watch less TV than the population as a whole. According to American Demographics, the workforce is becoming whiter collar. Between 1950 and 1985, the proportion of white-collar workers rose from 41 to 54 percent, that of blue-collar workers declined from 47 to 33 %, and that of service workers increased from 12 to 14 %. Population shifts are of interest to marketers because people in different regions buy different things. Over the past twenty years or so, the U. S.
population has been moving South and West -- to "The Sunbelt. " As mentioned above, over the last century the population has also been moving off the farm and into metropolitan areas. After WWII, there was a big migration from the cities to the suburbs, and trend, which continues today. And today, suburbs are becoming so large; they " re eating up the rural areas. Greater mobility allows the freedom to pursue more lucrative jobs and to more easily upgrade standard of living.
But, such mobility comes at a cost -- again, there's no free lunch -- as the family unit becomes more fractured, separated by greater distances, and we find ourselves living in a neighbourhood of strangers. Think about the impact this has on our health care system. Family members that used to be living in the same home, or at least the same community, are no longer present to provide care to aging parents. Hence, the health care system must pick up the slack. As more Americans age into disability, and are living away from family (or don't have family), the stress on our health care system can only increase.
Living with strangers also affects the crime rate. A couple of my classmates from India told me that one reason why the incidence of crimes against persons is so low in India is because everyone is a town or village knows everyone else -- your name, who your parents are, where you live, etc. A stranger in town is recognized immediately for what he / she is, and the townspeople are eager to find out why they are there. Of course, the townspeople are only trying to help, but such attention has to be rather disconcerting, and discouraging, to a potential thief or kidnapper who wants only to remain anonymous. The Social/Cultural Environment Consists of the forces that affect a society's values, perceptions, preferences, and behaviours. We grow up in a cultural environment that shapes our basic beliefs and values and that defines our relationship with others.
For marketers, it's important to understand what is going on in the social / cultural environment, as our perceptions and behaviours are constantly changing. While some cultural values tend to remain fairly constant (e. g. the principle that all Americans are entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is as strongly believed in today as it was when Founding Fathers drafted the Constitution), others change as their society changes. Further, think about various social situations in which you might find yourself everyday. Do you behave differently in front of your friends than you do your parents, or your work associates, or even your college professors?
The UK culture has been influenced by the Protestant work ethic, which prescribes hard work, self-help and the accumulation of material worth. Other advanced industrial societies are also materialistically oriented. Cultural values do, however, change over time and such is particularly evident amongst the young. Evidence suggests that many young people today question the desirability of a culture with core values based upon materialization.
Cultural Values are Relatively Constant Core beliefs and values have a high degree of persistence. They are those firmly established within a society and are difficult to change. Such beliefs and values are perpetuated through the family, the church, education, the government and other institutions of the society. As a result core cultural values act as relatively fixed parameters within which marketing firms are forced to operate.
Most Americans believe in working, getting married, having children, being honest, etc. These core beliefs shape specific behaviours we exhibit in everyday life, and are passed on from parents to children. Secondary beliefs are more open to change. For example, believing in marriage is a core belief; believing that people should get married early in life is a secondary belief The major cultural values of a society are expressed in people's view of themselves and of others, as well as their views of organizations, society as a whole, nature, and the universe. The views narrated below are with reference from Philip Kotlers book Market Management (Millennium Edition). People's Views of Themselves: has to do with one's emphasis on serving the self versus serving others.
Some seek personal pleasure, others self-realization. Brands are used as a means of self-expression, and people buy products that match their view of themselves (or the person they would like to be). During the 1980 's, ambition and materialism increased dramatically. Persons impacting these trends have come to be known as the "Me Generation, " where conspicuous consumption and hedonism were the standards of the day People's Views of Organization...
Free research essays on topics related to: collar workers, health care system, cultural values, u s population, beliefs and values
Research essay sample on U S Population Health Care System
