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My impression is that young Japanese nowadays are spending a larger percentage of their income on rent than their parents did. That might lead to them not feeli

My impression is that young Japanese nowadays are spending a larger percentage of their income on rent than their parents did. That might lead to them not feeling financially ready yet, especially when comparing to an elderly generation which owned the family home at their age. Also, you're not wrong with your comparison against Sydney. But are young families in Sydney having more kids? Or is it maybe just bad in both cases?

inkyoto 3y ago
Young Japanese with professional jobs are different from young Japanese living in the countryside. The former is the lifelong job stability (job hopping is far less common in the Japanese corporate environment compared to the West), and the latter is oftentimes (but not always) a job in a cottage industry, e.g. running a centuries long family business that makes combs or grows green tea. Wages are overall lower in Japan, but that somewhat levels off with food and housing being lower as well. Yes, young families in Sydney are procreating, and quite successfully so. Two children are nearly a norm, three children is also common, and even four children is not that uncommon. Preschool enrollments are at an all time high.
- matthewterhune 3y ago
  Birth rate in Sydney is down to 1.62 and falling as of 2021, and is lower than in NSW in general. Well below replacement. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/baby-drought-the-suburbs-with-sydney-s-lowest-fertility-rates-20221127-p5c1ky.html https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/baby-drought-the-suburbs...
  - defrost 3y ago
    Birth rates in Sydney where the young families are is 2.05 .. Camden, etc where the housing is affordable. Birth rates in the inner city areas and expensive suburbs is low. Will Australia suffer if high priced lawyers and real estate moguls are not replaced?
    - matthewterhune 3y ago
      Yes, the birth rates are higher where the birth rates are higher, but you could do this with any city - find some enclave that's doing better than the rest on whatever metric. Sydney as a whole is below replacement fertility just like every other large westernized city, and the trend is down, not up.

inkyoto 3y ago

Young Japanese with professional jobs are different from young Japanese living in the countryside. The former is the lifelong job stability (job hopping is far less common in the Japanese corporate environment compared to the West), and the latter is oftentimes (but not always) a job in a cottage industry, e.g. running a centuries long family business that makes combs or grows green tea. Wages are overall lower in Japan, but that somewhat levels off with food and housing being lower as well. Yes, young families in Sydney are procreating, and quite successfully so. Two children are nearly a norm, three children is also common, and even four children is not that uncommon. Preschool enrollments are at an all time high.

matthewterhune 3y ago
Birth rate in Sydney is down to 1.62 and falling as of 2021, and is lower than in NSW in general. Well below replacement. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/baby-drought-the-suburbs-with-sydney-s-lowest-fertility-rates-20221127-p5c1ky.html https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/baby-drought-the-suburbs...
- defrost 3y ago
  Birth rates in Sydney where the young families are is 2.05 .. Camden, etc where the housing is affordable. Birth rates in the inner city areas and expensive suburbs is low. Will Australia suffer if high priced lawyers and real estate moguls are not replaced?
  - matthewterhune 3y ago
    Yes, the birth rates are higher where the birth rates are higher, but you could do this with any city - find some enclave that's doing better than the rest on whatever metric. Sydney as a whole is below replacement fertility just like every other large westernized city, and the trend is down, not up.