Final answer:
Demographic trends suggest the population is aging, which can lead to greater demands on services and economic challenges. While increasing diversity in the workforce may reduce some disparities, other factors could exacerbate them. Thus, it's unclear if the population vulnerable to disparities will decrease.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether the population vulnerable to disparities will decrease over the next 50 years cannot be answered with a simple true or false. Demographic trends do indicate that world mortality rates have decreased and populations are aging, which leads to an increased need for medical and social services. This trend also poses economic challenges as the workforce ages and the fertility rate drops, potentially leading to a smaller pool of younger workers and greater economic development and labor challenges.
However, regarding the future of minorities in the workforce, some optimists believe that the increasing proportions of minority workers will help to break down discriminatory barriers and result in economic growth. Pessimists, on the other hand, worry about rising social tensions and reduced productivity. Also, as economic security increases and education improves, particularly for women, a "demographic shift" occurs and birth rates decline, which has been the case in many developed nations.
In summary, while some demographic changes might
progressively reduce disparities
, other factors such as social tensions and changes in the workforce composition could lead to a persistence or even an increase in certain types of disparities.