BAND 7.5 IELTS ESSAY SAMPLE: ANALYZING SHIFTS IN RETIREMENT AGE ACROSS COUNTRIES

Population aging is a common phenomenon in developed countries, and it occurs in more developing coutries in recent years. A partial measure to this trend is to rise legal retirement age and delay pension reception. Some people attach positive evaluations on this reschedule, while others emphasizing its negative influences. I am of both minds on this issue, because of three reasons: the necessity of it as an countermeasure towarding population aging; the over-exploitation on citizens, and the availability of other remedies, like immigration. First of all, the birth rates have been declining in most advanced economies, and this same demographic transformation also occur in some upper-level developing countries, such as China. Therefore, the challenges in terms of workforce shortage and economic stagnation call for at least a partial solution. Delaying legal retirement and pension distribution can function as one of the correctives. Hence this prolongation enforce positive effect as for the economy, and it furtherly sustains healthcare system, education, and other public services. Nonetheless, to demand those elderly citizens to work involves a sense of over-exploitation of them, and if any other resolutions to the greying demography issue are attainable, this excessive utilization of human resources should be limited. However, other cures do exist in the meantime. For some nations, their certain characteristics, including democratic politics, protection to personal freedom, and the spirit of rule of law, have been attracting immigrations. If this replenishment can complement the otherwise shrinking labor force, the deferral of lawful retirement and pension payout may be unnecessary. In this case, the job opportunity can remained open to elderly citizens but it may not be a stringent requirement. Despite that, some authoritarian regimes with booming economy may not enjoy such a immigration benefit, and the mentioned delay is still in need. In conclusion, I agree that delaying retirement and pension distribution is related to straining human resources, particularly those have been working decades, but sometimes it perform a critical role in reinforcing the healthcare system, education, and other public services. Meanwhile, if other means, like immigration, are obtainable, the degree of the deferment ought to be controlled.