Aging Population Boosts Healthcare Costs

Steps:

• An aging population means a higher proportion of elderly people relative to working-age adults.
• Elderly individuals typically require more medical care due to age-related health issues.
• In high-income economies, advanced healthcare systems respond by allocating more resources to meet these needs.
• This leads to greater government and private spending on healthcare services.

Why D is correct:

• Aging populations increase the prevalence of chronic diseases and disabilities, directly raising healthcare expenditures as defined by demographic transition models.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: An aging population raises the dependency ratio by increasing the number of non-working elderly dependents.
• B: Aging often prompts higher immigration to offset labor shortages, not a fall.
• C: Older populations tend to have lower geographic mobility due to health limitations and settled lifestyles.

Final answer: D