• @[email protected]
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    79 months ago

    Hardly the only two countries. In the US it’s only masked by immigrants. Fertility is even coming down in most parts of the third world.

    It’s mainly attributable to women’s improved education, career prospects, and access to contraception, plus declining infant mortality. Every single one of these factors is a good thing, but the combination of them will lead to a global demographic crunch over the next century.

    • @[email protected]
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      9 months ago

      I disagree with your statement that it’s “masked” by immigrants - I think immigration is a legitimate solution… but I don’t disagree with your causes - especially wealth inequality/declining career prospects for everyone.

      This must come as a surprise to “pro-family” conservatives but being ground into dust by your employer doesn’t really get the mojo flowing.

      • Justas🇱🇹
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        49 months ago

        When all the countries go below replacement levels, where are we going to get the immigrants from then? Outer space?

        • @[email protected]
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          89 months ago

          If all countries go below replacement levels we’ll be in a wonderful position because we’ll be able to feed and provide for everyone. That’s a looong way off though.

          • Justas🇱🇹
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            29 months ago

            Not necessarily. Pension systems will be strained, many economies of scale might break down, infrastructure might become too expensive to maintain with reduced taxpayer funding. Most young people will work to support old people leaving little leftover economic potential for anything else.

            A lot of people think that we can solve it with automation, but initial investment required to do that might become too expensive before it becomes necessary.