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What Will the World Look Like with Less Babies?

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Re: What Will the World Look Like with Less Babies?

#21

Post by randunel »

DeathArrow wrote: post #4

This is a rather serious issue but very few people care. It is at least as important as global warming. Media and politicians don't care at all.

Yet the world population keeps growing [0], the majority of the world's countries have increased the retirement age since the 2010s [1], and there's more measured productivity per worked hour than ever [2], correlated with people having to work less for the same wealth. The Gini index on a macro level hasn't changed much [3], either.

I fail to see why this issue might be "at least as important as global warming".

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_population_(UN).svg

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retirement_age

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workforce_productivity

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gini_since_WWII.svg

Re: What Will the World Look Like with Less Babies?

#23

Post by femto »

> Why Is This Happening?

Maybe it's a reduction in security?

https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/family-consequences-job-insec...

Children are a long term commitment. Being richer won't necessarily make a person have more children if they are uncertain whether the riches will continue. A $1000/month car, per the article, can be disposed of if things go bad. Children can't (unless you are in a Monty Python movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWWAC5ZMKeM )

Re: What Will the World Look Like with Less Babies?

#24

Post by TheSpiceIsLife »

wiseowise wrote: post #5

People finally started to realize that they have only one life and wasting half of it to raise another human is wasteful.

Incentives.

Having children is prohibitively expensive.

For example, Australia has like, what is it, 2.1 children for every 1 unit of child day care available.

There’s these things called “childcare deserts” - places where childcare isn’t available within a reasonable distance.

And a market shortfall of something like a million homes.

Don’t blame me, I voted for the other party. Oh wait, they’re greedy landlords too. Oops.

Re: What Will the World Look Like with Less Babies?

#25

Post by asimovfan »

HideousKojima wrote: post #6
wiseowise wrote: post #5

People finally started to realize that they have only one life and wasting half of it to raise another human is wasteful.

I wonder how your parents feel about your attitude, lucky for you they didn't share it.

This argument does not invalidate the original comment. I think my parents were stupid to have me and could have enjoyed their life better. I think i had two of the top 10 parents worldwide but still, it was a decision made with naivety and stupidity of youth.

Re: What Will the World Look Like with Less Babies?

#26

Post by liquidise »

smoldesu wrote: post #14
DeathArrow wrote: post #4

This is a rather serious issue but very few people care. It is at least as important as global warming. Media and politicians don't care at all.

> It is at least as important as global warming. Global warming is irreversible, low birth rates are not.

"Irreversible" feels like an overstatement for a planet that has documented swings in both its temp and atmospheric composition. I'd agree the timescales of changing warming trends is certainly slower than birth rates, though.

Re: What Will the World Look Like with Less Babies?

#27

Post by nly »

Well I can't speak for anybody else, but me and my partner are pushing mid to late 30s and simply haven't got there because of cost and lack of financial stability.

It's difficult to impossible to survive on a single income like my parents did to raise me, and the cost of childcare is the same as losing one income regardless.

For better or worse the economy has been reshaped around the assumption of dual income, full time working couples.

Re: What Will the World Look Like with Less Babies?

#28

Post by Terr_ »

HideousKojima wrote: post #6
wiseowise wrote: post #5

People finally started to realize that they have only one life and wasting half of it to raise another human is wasteful.

I wonder how your parents feel about your attitude, lucky for you they didn't share it.

That seems like Genetic Fallacy in more ways than one. :p

Re: What Will the World Look Like with Less Babies?

#29

Post by asimovfan »

awb wrote: post #10
wiseowise wrote: post #5

People finally started to realize that they have only one life and wasting half of it to raise another human is wasteful.

Many people enjoy it

They are probably lying (to themselves as well) because of the massive responsibility they feel for the child.
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