民國114年 高考三級 國際文教行政(選試英文) 英文(包括作文、翻譯與應用文)
第4題
英文作文:請根據說明寫一篇約300 字的英文作文(40 分) Background: In many developed and developing coun…
題目
英文作文:請根據說明寫一篇約300 字的英文作文(40 分) Background: In many developed and developing countries, life expectancy is increasing while birth rates are declining. This demographic shift means a growing percentage of the population is over the age of 65, while the working-age population is shrinking. As a result, fewer workers are supporting more retirees through taxes, pensions, and healthcare systems. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?Governments should raise the retirement age to address the economic challenges of an aging population. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
參考解答(AI 生成,非官方)
- 一、Governments should raise the retirement age to address the economic challenges of an aging population. I largely agree with this statement, because longer working lives can ease fiscal pressure and labor shortages. However, the policy must be gradual, fair, and accompanied by measures that protect vulnerable workers. A blanket increase without such safeguards would be neither economically effective nor socially acceptable.
- 二、First, a higher retirement age strengthens public finances. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, fewer workers support more retirees through payroll taxes, pensions, and healthcare. Pay-as-you-go systems therefore face chronic deficits. If people work longer, they contribute for more years and draw pensions for fewer years. Germany, for instance, has phased in a retirement age of 67, while the United Kingdom has linked its pension age to life expectancy. These reforms ease fiscal pressure without abruptly cutting benefits, giving households time to adjust.
- 三、Second, longer working lives help alleviate labor shortages. Many economies lack workers in healthcare, manufacturing, and skilled trades. Retaining experienced employees preserves institutional knowledge and raises output. Japan and Singapore have promoted re-employment and flexible arrangements for older workers, demonstrating that gradual extensions can succeed. Nevertheless, governments must protect people in physically demanding jobs through early-retirement exceptions, partial pensions, and retraining. Otherwise, the policy would unfairly burden low-income workers and those with health problems.
- 四、Admittedly, raising the retirement age is not a cure-all. It may delay promotion for younger workers and is unpopular among those nearing retirement. It should therefore be combined with productivity growth, immigration, private savings, and accessible healthcare. If phased in fairly and supported by robust social protection, however, it is a responsible and necessary response to demographic change. Ultimately, the alternative—abrupt benefit cuts or unsustainable public debt—would be far worse.
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