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The global fertility rate is falling

bbc.com

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Re: The global fertility rate is falling

#11

Post by toomuchtodo »

hprotagonist wrote: post #5

Elder care is a pressing issue, but in general isn't this good news?

For the planet? Yes. For people who have priorities other than child rearing? Yes. For economies based on endlessly borrowing from the future, overleveraging, and fractional reserve lending, most definitely not. The economy will have to adapt, as the decline curve is locked in the longer the fertility rate is below replacement rate.

This is, overall, splendid news. Commendable this was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Re: The global fertility rate is falling

#12

Post by dutch3000 »

another chicken little article. worthless speculation about the future. who knows what will happen if the population declines. one thing is for certain though. it will be a positive for the environment. at some point the ponzi scheme, infinite growth society must have it’s day of reckoning

Re: The global fertility rate is falling

#13

Post by cheez »

_bxg1 wrote: post #10

There's a short-term problem of society becoming "top-heavy", where there might not be enough young to pay for the continued care of the old. But in the long run this seems like a win. I wonder what impact it might have on climate projections.

Why does it seem like a win?

Re: The global fertility rate is falling

#14

Post by grugagag »

eranimo wrote: post #8
hprotagonist wrote: post #5

Elder care is a pressing issue, but in general isn't this good news?

Not for the economy

Yes for the planet and yes for the human race too, overpopulation leads to all sort of problems

The economy should adapt not the other way around

Re: The global fertility rate is falling

#15

Post by ALittleLight »

unstatusthequo wrote: post #3

This may be unpopular, but I already feel the earth is well beyond it’s ideal human population capacity. We are straining resources because of our bad policies and practices and politics.

What is your estimate on the Earth's ideal human population and what is it based on?

Re: The global fertility rate is falling

#16

Post by Guy2020 »

Children have become more of a burden than a benefit in many ways. We once had much use for our children. When people were more independent and everyone pretty much had a small business, children were seen as the life blood of that business. Now, we are pretty much expected to fill a role at some large corporation -- which Japan is the greatest example of. Also, the family centered culture has changed to a work centered culture. It used to be a mark of shame not to have a large family -- you were seen as a "dead end."

I don't think these changes are natural, given how little control people have over their lives. This stuff is being pushed from the top.

Re: The global fertility rate is falling

#17

Post by mhh__ »

unstatusthequo wrote: post #3

This may be unpopular, but I already feel the earth is well beyond it’s ideal human population capacity. We are straining resources because of our bad policies and practices and politics.

Eliminate coal power and the "problem" is nowhere near as bad.

Re: The global fertility rate is falling

#18

Post by miles »

unstatusthequo wrote: post #3

This may be unpopular, but I already feel the earth is well beyond it’s ideal human population capacity. We are straining resources because of our bad policies and practices and politics.

> I already feel the earth is well beyond it’s ideal human population capacity.

You might enjoy Peter Russell's "The Global Brain" for another perspective on human population growth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1sr9x263LM .

> We are straining resources because of our bad policies and practices and politics.

It certainly seems that our carrying capacity could be much greater with sounder policies, practices, and politics.

Re: The global fertility rate is falling

#20

Post by dougabug »

syshum wrote: post #7
unstatusthequo wrote: post #3

This may be unpopular, but I already feel the earth is well beyond it’s ideal human population capacity. We are straining resources because of our bad policies and practices and politics.

Yes and no. if you look at the date though the places with the most "abundance" or wealth is where the fertility rate is collapsing. It is largely down to that wealth that people are having less children.

Couldn’t this also be construed as a good thing? One outcome might wealth will be available to take care of the remaining population.
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