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Summary: In the making and execution of public policy of every kind, health and welfare services crucially among them, a long demographic perspective is a valuable instrument. It becomes clear that, amid the exponential growth of world population, with its attendant expansion of those in the older age-group, survival, rather than longevity, is the key. Adopting the UK as a working model, the use of a social and numerical analysis by function rather than chronological age is advocated as a help-meet, not least because this evades some of the negativity with which older age is regarded. A brief summation of age prejudice is added as a further caution about the watchfulness necessary when in pursuit of social goals, such as health and welfare. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

With reference to the concept of 'the stages of life' rather than 'ages', this paper examines the possibilities of estimating population figures for the First, Second and Third Ages in the United Kingdom, both for the present and at points in the past. The approach utilises the economic status of the citizenry — in particular, before, during and after paid work — rather than their ages or birth dates. The quantitative approximations are accompanied by a social commentary about the leverage of economic pressures, especially the calls or otherwise of employment, in effect, the Second Age, on the relative size of the First and Third Ages. It is concluded that much may be gained from 'redrawing the composition of the population with social rather than demographic contours'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]