Befolkningsfrågan i press och politik, 1994-2004

In this study population development is examined as the issue has been approached by printed media and to some extent politics during the period 1994–2004 in Sweden. Using bibliographic databases and particular word search the major Swedish newspapers were examined together with political documents. A bibliographic study together with a study of the actual articles written show that population development has been discussed from two points of views. In the beginning of the period issues on regional population development dominated the debate. Focus was on areas that lost or gained population and the consequences thereof. A large part of Sweden lost in population numbers and only a few regions gained population, mainly the growth areas in and around the large cities. The future of these areas as regard population and economic development was discussed as well as regional politics. Towards the end of the 1990s focus shifted to the issue of the ageing population and low birth rates in Sweden as well as in other western countries. Questions were asked about the effects on society of the retirement of the large baby-boom cohort of the 1940s. Labour market issues, such as the need for labour market immigration, were raised as a shortage of labour is predicted as this group retires. The costs of an increased amount of future pensions and the expected change to the demands on welfare that the 1940s cohort may have were other subjects discussed. In summary an increased interest in population issues could be noticed towards the end of the 1990s and into the new millennium as another aspect of population development was introduced.