In light of new data showing China's population shrinking for the second year running, a Shanghai-based think tank has drastically changed its 2100 forecast.
Because almost every country and economy has been built on the assumption of exponential growth of a constantly renewing pool of young workers that will pay for the upkeep of the growing elderly population. For example, currently 18% of the Chinese population is over 60. It’s going to be roughly 40% by 2050ish.
The planet will definitely be happy though. Humans, not so much.
The article said it well - why do we consider a slight decline in population of any country right now a horrible thing? The planet needs it.
We know why, because degrowth means less wealth in the pockets of the owners of news organizations
Because almost every country and economy has been built on the assumption of exponential growth of a constantly renewing pool of young workers that will pay for the upkeep of the growing elderly population. For example, currently 18% of the Chinese population is over 60. It’s going to be roughly 40% by 2050ish.
The planet will definitely be happy though. Humans, not so much.
Declining population doesn’t mean a lot if the remaining population continue to consume just as much if not more than the previous generation.