3 ms·

I don't see how "the emancipation and education of women" will work towards "abundant opportunity, not scarcity and existential threat". If anything, the entry

by blub 7y ago

I don't see how "the emancipation and education of women" will work towards "abundant opportunity, not scarcity and existential threat". If anything, the entry of women on the job market decades ago increased the supply side of the equation and competition. And whereas before one working adult could provide for a family, now it takes both of the adults working to provide for the same family.

mikhailfranco 7y ago
I agree with your comment about women entering the workforce (note that I said ironically). It's another good example of an arms race. The equilibrium with just men working was unstable. As soon as some women start to work, the cost of property in particular starts to rise, then other women are forced to work to afford a mortgage. (Property is often the constrained resource in the system, which means it captures most of the value from any beneficial change in the economy - e.g. SV startups are ways for geeks to work hard transferring money from VCs to landlords). However, liberation of women from the home is a goal in itself, and part of the long run solution. When women are emancipated, legally and socially, with access to contraception and education, in a society with a base level of utilities and appliances in the home (or village), and just enough of a welfare system to ensure that children are not seen as a pension policy, then progress can be made towards the sunlit uplands.
mikhailfranco 7y ago
Demographic moderation. The West, NE Asia and China are already past their peaks. India, Africa, Middle East and SE Asia are growing very rapidly. Countries like Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines and Vietnam are all bigger than the largest European country (Germany). Turkey will overtake Germany soon. The first 3 in the list are bigger than Russia. If half of India's population went to Europe, they would become the majority in every country, and India would still be the second largest country in the world. Nigeria is predicted (UN) to pass the US in 2050 and have 733m people in 2100.

by blub 7y ago

mikhailfranco 7y ago

I agree with your comment about women entering the workforce (note that I said ironically). It's another good example of an arms race. The equilibrium with just men working was unstable. As soon as some women start to work, the cost of property in particular starts to rise, then other women are forced to work to afford a mortgage. (Property is often the constrained resource in the system, which means it captures most of the value from any beneficial change in the economy - e.g. SV startups are ways for geeks to work hard transferring money from VCs to landlords). However, liberation of women from the home is a goal in itself, and part of the long run solution. When women are emancipated, legally and socially, with access to contraception and education, in a society with a base level of utilities and appliances in the home (or village), and just enough of a welfare system to ensure that children are not seen as a pension policy, then progress can be made towards the sunlit uplands.

mikhailfranco 7y ago

Demographic moderation. The West, NE Asia and China are already past their peaks. India, Africa, Middle East and SE Asia are growing very rapidly. Countries like Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines and Vietnam are all bigger than the largest European country (Germany). Turkey will overtake Germany soon. The first 3 in the list are bigger than Russia. If half of India's population went to Europe, they would become the majority in every country, and India would still be the second largest country in the world. Nigeria is predicted (UN) to pass the US in 2050 and have 733m people in 2100.