|On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 09:27:35 +0100, Howie | wrote: | |>I have recently become interested in the UK government's policy |>of increasing the population to solve the future tax burdon for |>the pensions timebomb we hear so much about. | |You mean by immigration? by the time a new generation born now grew up |the situation would almost certainly be completely different.
No. I don't mean by immigration. Immigration is just a red-herring and is not statistically significant IMO. If anything, it can only marginally assist this 'population increase' policy. I mean by increased birth-rate. This was alluded to in my first paragraph which mentioned the incentives of WFTC and increased child benefit for additional children.
Note that all governments are increasingly required to address this question and put plans in place. This appears to be rather unique situation as the government in question are not likely to need to answer for the results. The plan itself and it's implementation at inception and during the government's term of office is judged. However it is a requirement because it shows that the present-day government can be seen to be addressing a known long-term problem.
As far as your thoughts that it is 'almost certain to be completely different', only the financial calculations are likely to change, and this depends on the government's actions which precede it. Don't forget, in 16 years an individual may begin to pay income and other taxes.
However, all this does not really address my original question... !