The Great Depopulation
The article examines the global decline in birthrates across all countries, exploring the economic, cultural, and social factors driving this trend and its potential long-term consequences for societies worldwide.
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Global birthrates are falling sharply, with most countries now below replacement level, leading to population decline that could reshape economies, social structures, and geopolitics. The article examines the causes—including urbanization, rising education and costs, and shifting values—and the profound challenges of an aging, shrinking population.
China's birth rate has fallen below replacement level due to high costs of housing, education, and childcare. The traditional family structure is eroding, causing a demographic crisis that threatens economic growth and military recruitment. Government efforts to encourage more births have failed so far.
Paul Graham argues that strongly held identities make people more closed-minded and less able to have productive discussions. He suggests that keeping one's identity small—avoiding defining yourself by fixed labels or beliefs—allows for more rational thinking and intellectual flexibility.
A New York Fed study finds food-insecure households are far more pessimistic about the economy than food-secure ones, even after controlling for income. This skews consumer sentiment surveys and explains part of the gap between strong economic data and negative public perceptions.
A growing divide in family desires between Gen Z men and women is emerging. While more young men express a strong desire to become fathers, many Gen Z women are increasingly hesitant or uninterested in having children, reflecting shifting gender roles and priorities.