It’s probably a good thing in almost every way except for the economics and care for the elderly, the latter of which could hypothetically be solved with robots

It’s probably a good thing in almost every way except for the economics and care for the elderly, the latter of which could hypothetically be solved with robots but I think we’re still a ways out from that being practical and widespread. The economic implications could also be pretty severe. Our economy is modeled such that we prosper when money flows and there is growth. With less people to be taxed, less people to buy things, and less people putting their money in the markets, the economic engine will stall and then shrink. Everyone loses when that happens. The Great Depression didn’t happen because money literally disappeared, it was more like hoarding and stagnation. That will happen again when the population declines. That said, I’m not out here telling people to have babies just so the economy won’t crash. Boom and bust seems to be part of our nature. Perhaps eventually we will move to an economic model that is more resilient to such things but I doubt it will happen anytime soon.