In some countries, many more people are choosing to live alone nowadays than
in the past. Do you think this is a positive or negative development? INTRODUCTION: particularly in large cities in the developed world. In my
opinion, this trend could have both positive and negative consequences in equal
measure.In recent years it has become far more normal for people to live alone,
BP1: The rise in one-person households can be seen as positive for both
personal and broader economic reasons. On an individual level, people who choose
to live alone may become more independent and self-reliant than those who live
with family members. A young adult who lives alone, For instance, will need to
learn to cook, clean, pay bills and manage his or her budget, all of which are
valuable life skills; an increase in the number of such individuals can
certainly be seen as a positive development. From an economic perspective, the
trend towards living alone will result in greater demand for housing. This is
likely to benefit the construction industry, estate agents and a whole host of
other companies that rely on homeowners to buy their products or services. BP2: However,
the personal and economic arguments given above can be considered
from the opposite angle. Firstly,
rather than the positive feeling of increased independence,
people who live alone may experience feelings of loneliness, isolation and
worry. They miss out on the emotional support and daily conversation that family
or flatmates can provide, and they must bear the weight of all household bills
and responsibilities; in this sense, perhaps the trend towards living alone is a
negative one.
Secondly,
from the financial point of view, a rise in demand for housing is
likely to push up property prices and rents. While this may benefit some
businesses, the general population, including those who live alone, will be
faced with rising living costs. CONCLUSION: In conclusion,
the increase in one-person households will have both beneficial
and detrimental effects on individuals and on the economy.