interestingly, birth rates for an increasing number of "rich" countries has dropped beneath the population replacement rate. It's middle-income and low-income countries that continue to grow internally. The US is growing substantially by immigration, the "Wall" notwithstanding. Japan is shrinking in population. China's birth rate has plu…
interestingly, birth rates for an increasing number of "rich" countries has dropped beneath the population replacement rate. It's middle-income and low-income countries that continue to grow internally. The US is growing substantially by immigration, the "Wall" notwithstanding. Japan is shrinking in population. China's birth rate has plummeted to the point that the central government is attempting to stimulate the populace to have more children. Economists have real trouble with zero or negative economic growth. We have to find ways of replacing material consumption with other measures of improved quality of life. Who could argue with fewer diabetics amongst the older population? Who could argue against lower transportation costs as we convert to cheaper and cleaner forms of energy? Who would argue against neighborhoods designed for walking, cycling and golf-cart shopping?
With virtually ALL economic growth coming at the expense of the environment (see my comment above), there is an urgent need for a new method of calculating economic growth which includes the amount of environmental degradation "contributing" to that growth.
Changing the calculations for economic growth is urgently needed. It must take the negatives more into account. It also needs to include more of the caretaking and services "industries" that provides quality of life. Doing so would shift expectations that we always must increase our stuff to living a sustainable life that increases our well being. Some things are good enough.
And yet they do, Republicans being very hostile to sustainable energy and high speed rail. Who would argue against taking measure to reduce the spread of COVID? And yet more could be done to promote evidence-based approaches. And yes, affluence and education tend to favor "family planning".
interestingly, birth rates for an increasing number of "rich" countries has dropped beneath the population replacement rate. It's middle-income and low-income countries that continue to grow internally. The US is growing substantially by immigration, the "Wall" notwithstanding. Japan is shrinking in population. China's birth rate has plummeted to the point that the central government is attempting to stimulate the populace to have more children. Economists have real trouble with zero or negative economic growth. We have to find ways of replacing material consumption with other measures of improved quality of life. Who could argue with fewer diabetics amongst the older population? Who could argue against lower transportation costs as we convert to cheaper and cleaner forms of energy? Who would argue against neighborhoods designed for walking, cycling and golf-cart shopping?
With virtually ALL economic growth coming at the expense of the environment (see my comment above), there is an urgent need for a new method of calculating economic growth which includes the amount of environmental degradation "contributing" to that growth.
Changing the calculations for economic growth is urgently needed. It must take the negatives more into account. It also needs to include more of the caretaking and services "industries" that provides quality of life. Doing so would shift expectations that we always must increase our stuff to living a sustainable life that increases our well being. Some things are good enough.
And yet they do, Republicans being very hostile to sustainable energy and high speed rail. Who would argue against taking measure to reduce the spread of COVID? And yet more could be done to promote evidence-based approaches. And yes, affluence and education tend to favor "family planning".
OK Nathan!!! Are you considering being nominated for an office of leadership???
Thanks for your amazing input!!!
Go Nathan,Go!!!!