Using the information on the table and the population pyramid, Write a 5-8 page discussion of your findings using at least 5 sources to answer each of the following questions:
A. What patterns do you see when you compare the pyramids for the counties to each other and when you compare across the two time points? Specifically, what patterns do you see with regard to 1) the relative proportions of men and women, and 2) the relative proportions of young (under 15), working-age (20- 64), and elderly persons (65+)?
B. How do the counties vary with regard to other demographic characteristics? Discuss your data table (#5 above) and compare at least four demographic characteristics of the counties. To what extent do these characteristics appear to be related to the pyramids in each county?
C. What macro- and meso–level factors (e.g., demographic, economic, social, and institutional) have contributed to the differences in age composition across the counties? What specific institutions (e.g., university, prison, retirement communities) or labor force characteristics may help to explain differences across age pyramids? Use information from the Census or information from other available sources, including county and state documents or web pages, newspaper articles, etc.
D. What are some of the implications of the different age compositions for the counties — with regard to policy concerns, labor market, housing and schools, health care, regional planning and transportation, or other services that each county needs to provide?
E. If you were trying to decide which of the county to live in after you complete your education, which county would you choose?
