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It's fitting that this article is from "economist.com" because mostly, the only people who care so much about this are "economists". Find me an environmentalis
by bamboozled 4y ago
It's fitting that this article is from "economist.com" because mostly, the only people who care so much about this are "economists".
Find me an environmentalist who is worried about there being less people because frankly, I doubt they exist.
Yes, having less people in a relatively short amount of time won't be without issue, but I do feel like the people who seemed most worried about low birth rates are politicians and economists.
We need to keep the consumers coming right?
I'm optimistic because while there is obviously going to be issues with there being less people on earth, it feels like the planet could do with a rest.
- adrianN 4y agoThere are a lot of people who don't particularly worry about economic growth, but do worry that the ponzi schemes that are called social security and pensions in most countries will collapse.
- tetris11 4y agoHow though? What is required for elderly care to work? In my mind its a problem of free housing, and having a cyclic workforce of part-time volunteers (e.g. like military service). That or robots.
- adrianN 4y agoMoney and people are needed. Not too long ago four people paid for one pensioneer. Soon it will be 1:1.
- abyssin 4y agoThe issue is old people vote. If they are a majority, they’ll elect people who manage society for the short term. Of course this phenomenon of short term governance isn’t limited to the population pyramid. One of the manifestations of the phenomenon of representatives working for the old generation where I live is housing. You see old people living in big houses for free, while the younger generation only has shared housing for crazy prices as a solution. Also with mobility: this old generation won’t let go of their cars although they move around only for leisure, but the city has become too dense for car-centric mobility. The elders don’t care, as they stay at home during peak hour.
- fomine3 4y agoYou underestimate how much workforce needed for elderly care industry. Some people need to quit job to care their parents, that become a problem. It steals workforce from other industry.
- int_19h 4y agoIf they are indeed Ponzi schemes, it would be better for them to collapse sooner rather than later, since the accompanying damage is only going to increase with time.
- refurb 4y agoI assume environmentalists like technological advancement? And a population who can afford or contribute to a tax base where the government can support R&D for more green technologies? How about medical care? Do environmentalists like advances in cancer care? And a system where the population has the money to access them? Or social security? Paying money to retirees so they can live in relative comfort? Population declines are a major issue. In some Asian countries the number of workers per retiree is going from 20 to 1, down to 2 to 1 if the population declines continues. Growth means more money. Not just for things like consumer items you so distain, but also social programs that keep people healthy and in relative comfort.
- bamboozled 4y agoYes, except we can have technological progress without 8 billion people, many of whom are aging ?
- refurb 4y agoHow do you pay for it? Economic growth means more money for things we want. I mean we can have technological advancement with fewer people. But it’s likely going to be slower and fewer people can afford it.