4 ms·
Wow, I find it really bold that WSJ has so openly dug into the demographic issue. I've previously only heard about it so openly discussed in conservative circle
by jxramos 11y ago
Wow, I find it really bold that WSJ has so openly dug into the demographic issue. I've previously only heard about it so openly discussed in conservative circles (eg http://foreignpolicy.com/2009/10/20/the-return-of-patriarchy/ http://foreignpolicy.com/2009/10/20/the-return-of-patriarchy...). They pretty much hit all the major areas with fertility and women and all the other stuff lined up http://graphics.wsj.com/2050-demographic-destiny/ http://graphics.wsj.com/2050-demographic-destiny/. It'll be an interesting century with this unprecedented implosion.
- seanmcdirmid 11y agoWSJ is actually pretty conservative. I mean, it is owned by Newscorp!
- gherkin0 11y agoI've heard that their newsroom is very liberal, even though their editorial page is conservative. They're run separately.
- djur 11y agoMarxists and other leftists have identified the need for cheap labor as a major long-term weakness in capitalism for over a century. The question has always been how long technological advances and increased globalization can provide the growth necessary for social stability. Liberals might not think about it in the same way, but they're unlikely to see a reduction in population growth as a bad thing on its own terms. Certainly, they're very unlikely to propose natalist policies as a solution.
- afarrell 11y agoIsn't it also an even major weakness in socialism? After all, if your society is committed to providing a minimum standard of living for the elderly and disabled, that depends upon labor.
- danharaj 11y agoHow much labor do you think is needed to provide water, food, shelter, clothing, electricity, household machines (even a 3d printer), computation, and entertainment for everyone? The hours I put into a CRUD app last week are wasted labor as far as I'm concerned, but I need to pay rent to a landlord and the only people with money are people who want me to make them even more money.
- afarrell 11y agoWell, given that you have just described the vast majority of my household expenses, I would say a lot of labor goes into providing that. Also, you forgot healthcare.
- fludlight 11y agoThis is called the dependency ratio.
- jxramos 11y agonever heard of natalism before, good formalism there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalism
- handedness 11y agoGeorge Friedman, Peter Zeihan, and numerous other astute forecasters/demographers/etc. have been talking about this for many, many years. It isn't a partisan thing, it's a spreadsheet thing.