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The End of Economic Growth? Unintended Consequences of a Declining Population [pdf]

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Re: The End of Economic Growth? Unintended Consequences of a Declining Population [pdf]

#91

Post by int_19h »

14 wrote: post #85
thatfrenchguy wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The issues with retired people in the Bay Area that they have prevented any housing construction at all in the last 30 years, while living in gigantic houses for now one ortwo people: that’s why they get so much hate.

I imagine from their prospective they have worked hard their whole life to build up these communities to which they maximize their own feeling of safety, enjoyment, belonging as well as many other sentiments I am sure. Perhaps it is their belief that the stand of trees preventing a skyscraper is much better served as a stand of timber for nature and other outdoor activities. My point is they have as much of a say in…

The way it works in practice, they have more of a say, because they own all those properties.

Re: The End of Economic Growth? Unintended Consequences of a Declining Population [pdf]

#92

Post by Eridrus »

adrianN wrote: post #16

Why would you care about economic growth in absolute terms instead of productivity per person?

There are a lot of things we like, e.g. science, culture, medecine, software with large fixed costs and low marginal costs. A larger economy lets us have more of them.

Of course, economic growth is not sufficient for this, but it is necessary.

Re: The End of Economic Growth? Unintended Consequences of a Declining Population [pdf]

#93

Post by thulecitizen »

leetcrew wrote: post #46
thulecitizen wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think I 100% understand what you mean by population decline? Do you mean planned parenthood/contraception? In other words: what are some of the strategies you are in favor of to make this decline happen?

in the west, one strategy would be to do nothing and let the current trend run its course.

What current trends are you talking about here?

Re: The End of Economic Growth? Unintended Consequences of a Declining Population [pdf]

#94

Post by throwawaybbb »

thepangolino wrote: post #86
throwawaybbb wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The bottom 50% of the US are poorer than they were in 1968 in both real and absolute terms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth_inequality_in_the_Unite...

Income inequality is a very flower metric to mesure wealth variations. Imagine country A, awesome with very little income inequality. Half it’s citizens earn 9k a year and the other half 10k a year. Now country B, is very bad. 90% make 50k a year and the other 10% make 500k. That’s terrible, isn’t it? I wouldn’t want to live in country B.

The bottom 50% of US citizens have -0.2 trillion in wealth. That's right, they are in debt.

Never in the history of the world have the poor had less than nothing.

Re: The End of Economic Growth? Unintended Consequences of a Declining Population [pdf]

#95

Post by leetcrew »

thulecitizen wrote: post #93
leetcrew wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

in the west, one strategy would be to do nothing and let the current trend run its course.

What current trends are you talking about here?

birthrates in the west are trending down. the US hit a new low recently of 1.8 births per woman, well below the replacement rate. the US currency has a slightly positive (0.5%) population growth, but this is only due to immigration. if we merely do nothing (and don't adjust immigration quotas), we will have negative population growth in the near future.

Re: The End of Economic Growth? Unintended Consequences of a Declining Population [pdf]

#96

Post by mark_l_watson »

Infinitesimus wrote: post #82
mark_l_watson wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A more robust and sustainable future for my grandchildren.

Why your grand children and not someone else's? Or put differently, would you forgo having children and grandchildren so that others can have this future you imagine?

I meant everyone’s grandchildren. I will be more careful how I say that in the future.

Re: The End of Economic Growth? Unintended Consequences of a Declining Population [pdf]

#98

Post by daxfohl »

Guthur wrote: post #30
daxfohl wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like we could have some other metrics that could also be relevant to our happiness here on Earth? Nah. Or, I think I've heard it said better, "If the purpose of life isn't 'maximizing shareholder value', we're fucked".

Do you believe all the countries over the past 2 centuries that have enjoyed amazing economic growth are better or worse for it?

I said also relevant.
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