TREND TO WELFARE STATE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28524, 1 March 1958, Page 14

TREND TO WELFARE STATE

Effect Of Younger Voters (N-Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) CHICAGO, Feb. 28. The proportion of young voters in several Western nations, including Australia and New Zealand, would increase in a few years and put a brake on the trend towards the Welfare State, Dr. Frank Dickinson, an American medical economist, said today. Dr. Dickinson said that the ratio of young citizens in these countries would begin to rise soon in sgfte of increased life expectancy. Writing in the American Medical Association’s journal, lie predicted the swelling ratio of younger voters would lessen the clamour for the guaranteed future, “the riskless society.” Dr. Dickinson, who is a doctor of philosophy and , director of the association’s bureau of medical economic research, said that the percentage of older voters—those 50 years old or more—would reach a peak in Australia in 1961, then begin to decline. The study indicated that New Zealand would reach its peak in 1962, France in 1965 and the United States in 1970. The turning point for Britain was not in sight in the next 20 years, he said. He said that he based his findings on interviews, population and expected death rates during the next two decades.