Final answer:
The most significant demographic trend in the United States is the aging population, known as the 'graying of America', which indicates an increasing share of individuals who are over sixty-five. This trend has both economic benefits, like increased investment, and costs, such as greater pressure on healthcare and pension systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research has shown that the most important demographic trend in the United States is the aging population. This trend is often referred to as the 'graying of America', which signifies the increasing percentage of the population that is over sixty-five years old. As life expectancy increases, the segment of the population aged 65 and older has doubled in the last fifty years. The graying of the United States leads to several economic implications such as a potential labor shortage due to retiring Baby Boomers, increased healthcare costs, and other shifts in social institutions like the growing demand for elder care and assisted living facilities.
One economic benefit of an aging population is the accumulation of wealth over lifetimes which may lead to increased investment in the economy. Conversely, a significant economic cost includes the pressure on pension and healthcare systems as a larger proportion of the population becomes retirees. Demographic momentum indicates the tendency for a growing population to continue growing after a fertility decline because of their young age distribution. This different stage in the demographic transition model leads to contrasting economic impacts compared to those of an aging population.