Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees

Post by bearincar » Sat, Dec 07, 2024, 4:31 AM UTC

jefbyokyie wrote: post #180

metacritic12 wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think reciprocation can be analyzed in a dynamic setting like that. Another version of this is, what happens if the younger generation doesn't take the deal -- do they get fired? Keeping them on is a form of reciprocation, even if bleak. Likewise, is there an implicit deal where when the young get old, they get to work less? If so, it is eventually reciprocated. I do think it is not reciprocated instantaneous…

What you describe as reciprocation is actually transgenerational exploitation. Be forcefully taken-from when you are young, and then forcefully take (from the young) when you are old. It should be unidirectional giving. Give to your children, and save for yourself. Retire to an assisted living facility, don't become a burden. Hope to die as soon as you become a burden. If you decide to die, because you are done livin…

Post by Spivak » Sat, Dec 07, 2024, 5:00 AM UTC

imetatroll wrote: post #215

nemo44x wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I enjoyed the DINK life for some time but eventually we decided to start a family and my only regret in life is we didn't start it sooner and have more kids. In the end all the fancy restaurants, nights out, fancy vacations with first class airfare, etc were nice in some ways but pretty vapid and unimportant when looking back. I won't value those years very much compared to the years with children in the house. The e…

I think that any loving, financial well couple would discover the same, but all I hear from younger people is excuses as to why kids are a burden. It drives me a bit crazy.

Post by acuozzo » Sat, Dec 07, 2024, 5:08 AM UTC

WarOnPrivacy wrote: post #169

dividefuel wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with this as the main factor (over cost) for the falling birth rate. The opportunity cost of having children has never been higher: you give up leisure, hobbies, rest, social life, and income. Whether or not children is worth this cost is a personal thing, but it seems kinda obvious that as the cost increases, fewer will pay it.

> The opportunity cost of having children has never been higher: you give up leisure, hobbies, rest, social life, and income. Those things are given up because parenting-time is up 20-fold from a few generations ago. From the 1960s back, kids needed parents a few hours a week. But we reduced kids' roaming area from many sq mi to just their own property . At the same time, we instituted 24/7 adulting. Most of those ho…

Post by s5300 » Sat, Dec 07, 2024, 5:31 AM UTC

RiverCrochet wrote: post #75

reverendsteveii wrote: post #29

I feel like it's been a long time fretting over falling birth rates and this is the first time I've seen anyone float the idea that making life better for people might make them a bit more inclined to make more people.

I had an interesting discussion with my nephew about this post. He angers me with the way he talks about stuff, but I consider it an exercise in mental fortitude. Allow me to share his absolutely crazy and unreasonable thoughts on this: "Nobody really wants more people except certain religious sects, and that is only because it allows them to use sexuality to control people. Most modern capitalists would favor automa…

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Dec 07, 2024, 5:56 AM UTC

askonomm wrote: post #236

anigbrowl wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's a mistake to project changes in US society onto that in Japan. Kids there are still largely free range.

Yeah, also in Northern Europe. Here in Estonia kids as young as 5 years old even go to kindergarten on their own. They take a bus and are just fine. Seems to me the helicopter parenting is mostly a thing in the U.S.