Are We Running Out of People? Birthrate concerns in numerous developed nations

[GON]

Interesting video on the impact falling birthrates may have for some nations.

South Korea has the lowest birth rates in the world, currently at .7%. South Korea would need a minimum birth rate of 2% to sustain its population. The video implies if something significant doesn't change, South Korea may to fail to exist by 2100. That is not so far away. Another interesting fact from the video- Japan currently sells more adult diapers than baby diapers.

The follow-on discussion includes--who is going to take care of the aging population, how will entitlement programs be funded with declining pool of workers paying taxes.

The video is 4.46 minutes long:

 

[KrisZ]

Don’t worry, immigration will solve it
Just like globalization solved getting rid of jobs Americans apparently didn’t want in the first place.

 

[Vercingetorix]

I eagerly await the collapse lol.

 

[mk378]

Comstock Law II is coming.

But that is shortsighted since a baby boom won't solve an elder care problem. Babies need care now as well as in the future when they become elderly.

If there really was a shortage of people, countries would stop their people from emigrating. There are only a couple of countries that do that, and not for that reason.

 

[skyactiv]

If we look at now vs then, it's a tough environment to have a baby today. We expect women to go to college and establish a career first when it is those years they are best able to conceive and have a healthy baby.

 

[FowVay]

Considering that there is over 8 BILLION humans crawling this planet, I hardly feel we're coming upon a shortage of people. However, we do seem to have a shortage of intelligent and resourceful people. We as a species benefit greatly from the genius of a select few. I could have never invented a microwave oven if left to my own accord but I am a master Chef with mine.

As the population of the intelligent declines we draw closer and closer to the culture of "Idiocracy". Most humans are intelligent individually. When they choose to run in packs they become deadly and dangerous to the planet.

 

[RooflessVW]

Constant growth requires constant increase in consumption.

We're not running out of people, but the current system requires more consumers year over year...

 

[Geekhead]

Interesting video on the impact falling birthrates may have for some nations.

South Korea has the lowest birth rates in the world, currently at .7%. South Korea would need a minimum birth rate of 2% to sustain its population. The video implies if something significant doesn't change, South Korea may to fail to exist by 2100. That is not so far away. Another interesting fact from the video- Japan currently sells more adult diapers than baby diapers.

The follow-on discussion includes--who is going to take care of the aging population, how will entitlement programs be funded with declining pool of workers paying taxes.

The video is 4.46 minutes long:

Japan has similar population issue as they have almost no immigration

 

[Snagglefoot]

For sure the population of the developed world is getting under control. Africa will be the last hold out.

 

[tbm5690]

If we look at now vs then, it's a tough environment to have a baby today. We expect women to go to college and establish a career first when it is those years they are best able to conceive and have a healthy baby.

This is going to sound harsh, but women choose to make it a tough environment by giving in to societal pressures to work instead of raising children. At least in my socioeconomic circle, just about every woman that works thinks that she has to contribute financially when the reality is that household could make it just fine on one income if they made the choice to adjust their lifestyle. It's especially tough to see women that really WANT to stay at home but feel that they can't, which isn't true.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Canada is growing fast due to immigration. As with most things it seems 1/2 of the voting population does not agree with the the other half. Canada has 40 million people. We used to maintain a 10 to one ratio with the USA but now it’s 8.4 to one.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The issue is not workers or people to take care of the old. The issue is we will have less consumers. The world lives on consumption.

Normal transition for developed nations. USA millenial generation were the exception, not the norm, so its happening elsewhere first. IE Japan - been there for 40 years already. China and Russia not far behind.

No governing system has been developed for a declining population. Look simply at the Fiat money supply. It has to increase annually for it to work, but with a declining population - that means it no longer works, and you end up with mal-investment and inflation. Sound familiar?

 

[Snagglefoot]

Mexico is of the countries with an amazing drop in the fertility rate. In 1970 it was 6.5. It’s now down to two.

 

[eljefino]

No governing system has been developed for a declining population. Look simply at the Fiat money supply. It has to increase annually for it to work, but with a declining population - that means it no longer works, and you end up with mal-investment and inflation. Sound familiar?

Money is exchanged for goods and services. When retirees have all the money but (few) workers have the labor for sale, guess who's coming out on top? Ah, who am I kidding, the workers will work 80 hours a week and the retirees will still control the universe.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Money is exchanged for goods and services. When retirees have all the money but (few) workers have the labor for sale, guess who's coming out on top? Ah, who am I kidding, the workers will work 80 hours a week and the retirees will still control the universe.

Its definitely an issue, but its complex. While boomers hold 70% of all wealth assets, something like 40% of boomers have saved nothing. So you have roughly 40M people that hold 70% of all wealth assets, so its concentrated. They don't spend but a small amount on normal consumption, hence you have them driving the price of houses and equities up through the roof because they have to spend it on something.

The question is what happens next.

 

[wpod]

Its definitely an issue, but its complex. While boomers hold 70% of all wealth assets, something like 40% of boomers have saved nothing. So you have roughly 40M people that hold 70% of all wealth assets, so its concentrated. They don't spend but a small amount on normal consumption, hence you have them driving the price of houses and equities up through the roof because they have to spend it on something.

The question is what happens next.

Why do the [boomers] hold 70% of the wealth. Did their wealth appear like magic or did they work and save and invest?

 

[wpod]

LMAO blame the women

We are dumbed down and brainwashed by the mainstream media .

 

[SC Maintenance]

Why do the [boomers] hold 70% of the wealth. Did their wealth appear like magic or did they work and save and invest?

Ahh, cue "the younger generations just don't work hard enough" drivvle. Took 1 minute.

The short answer is the US government printed $35T and the federal reserve and other central fractional reserve banks turned it into $350T in debt, and 60% of boomers were in the right place and right time to be smart enough to ride the wave. "invest in the S&P 500 and let it ride" is hardly Benjamin Graham stock picking expertise. I am doing the same but was born 20 years late. The next gens have even less chance. The bill is due.

 

[Kestas]

Many of the problems we talk about in our society -- overdevelopment, loss of habitat, pollution, expensive mineral resources -- can be traced to increasing population. I'm all for birth rate decline. I've held this view for the past 50 years.

I understand we presently have ZPG (zero population growth) in developed countries. It is the third world countries where population grows unchecked.

 

[ecotourist]

Considering that there is over 8 BILLION humans crawling this planet, I hardly feel we're coming upon a shortage of people. However, we do seem to have a shortage of intelligent and resourceful people. .

The 3rd world does not lack for intelligent, resourceful, hard working people. But when you have to scrape to find every meal, you're a bit preoccupied. Then a poor education (or no education) and having a whole bunch of kids to feed doesn't help the situation.

In virtually every prosperous society or even transitioning to modest prosperity, the first thing that happens is most people stop having so many kids.