All articles tagged with #demographic crisis
China has introduced a $500 annual childcare subsidy for families with children under three, aiming to boost birth rates and support household spending amid demographic decline and economic growth challenges. The policy, starting in 2025, is part of broader efforts to address population decline and stimulate consumer activity, following similar initiatives worldwide.
Russia is facing a severe demographic crisis characterized by declining birth rates, high mortality, and a shrinking population, exacerbated by war, alcoholism, and drug issues, with experts warning of an impending existential threat due to these trends.
Japan's native population is declining at a record rate as births plunge, exacerbating the country's demographic crisis. The number of births in 2021 fell to the lowest level since records began in 1899, while deaths reached a postwar high, leading to a natural population decline of almost 900,000. This trend highlights the challenges posed by Japan's rapidly aging population and low birth rate, which have significant implications for the country's economy and social welfare system.
Elon Musk and Larry Fink have both highlighted the challenges posed by declining birth rates and an aging population, with Morgan Stanley predicting that the share of Americans over 65 will reach 24% by 2060. However, the investment bank also sees investment opportunities in this trend, particularly in the health care sector. They recommend investing in UnitedHealth Group due to the increasing demand for health care services driven by the aging population, as well as in health care REITs like Welltower and American Healthcare REIT, which are expected to benefit from the rising demand for senior housing and medical facilities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's International Women's Day address emphasized the importance of women having children, stating that motherhood is the "amazing purpose" for women and that family remains the most important thing for any woman. Putin's focus on childbirth is part of his efforts to address Russia's demographic crisis, which has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, coronavirus-related deaths, and emigration. He has previously called on Russians to have more babies and revive the tradition of large families to preserve ethnic groups in Russia.
Bosnia is facing a peacetime exodus as a result of low birth rates and emigration, driven by ethnic tensions and frustration with corruption. The country's rural areas, including the village of Socice, are experiencing a significant decline in population, with only 15 people remaining compared to over 400 in 1992. This trend reflects a broader demographic crisis in Eastern and Central Europe, fueling the rise of ethnonationalist politicians who oppose the dilution of native populations.
South Korea's fertility rate, already the world's lowest, dropped to a record low of 0.72 in 2023, with concerns about career advancement and the financial cost of raising children leading women to delay childbirth or opt not to have babies. The country's population decline poses a significant risk to economic growth and the social welfare system, with efforts to reverse the trend, such as increased public housing and easier loans, being a focus in upcoming elections. South Korea's demographic crisis mirrors similar challenges in neighboring Japan and China, where fertility rates have also hit record lows, prompting unprecedented steps to address the declining birthrate.
Japan's birthrate has fallen for the eighth consecutive year, reaching a record low in 2023, with the number of births dropping by 5.1% and marriages falling below 500,000 for the first time in 90 years. The government is considering unprecedented measures to address the declining birthrate, such as expanding childcare and promoting wage hikes for younger workers, as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called the situation the "gravest crisis" the country faces. Japan's population is projected to decline by about 30% to 87 million by 2070, with a significant portion of the population being aged 65 or older.
Japan's birth rate has hit a record low, with the number of babies born falling for an eighth straight year to 758,631, and the number of marriages dropping below 500,000 for the first time in 90 years. The government plans to take unprecedented steps to cope with the declining birth rate, including expanding childcare and promoting wage hikes for younger workers. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called the trend the "gravest crisis our country faces" and unveiled a range of steps to support child-bearing households. Japan's population is projected to decline by about 30% to 87 million by 2070, with four out of every 10 people aged 65 or older.
China's Spring Festival holds significant cultural and demographic importance, but the country's demographic toll from the One Child Policy and Covid-19, along with economic challenges, has cast a shadow over the festivities. Xi Jinping's authoritarian power and state-directed interventions have led to economic stagnation, a bursting property bubble, and disaffected youth. Despite Western criticisms, international institutions are cautious in addressing China's economic issues, which are exacerbated by political risks and Xi's nationalist agenda. As China faces a population doom spiral and increasing political tensions with the West, the focus should shift from GDP and unemployment to preparing for a new cold war.
Births in Italy are projected to reach a new record low in 2023, according to preliminary data from the national statistics bureau. The country has been facing a long-standing demographic crisis, with a 1.7% decline in births in 2022, marking the 14th consecutive drop and the lowest number since Italy's unification in 1861. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has allocated around 1 billion euros to address the crisis, which is driven by challenges faced by Italian women in balancing work and motherhood. The shrinking and aging population leads to lower productivity and higher welfare costs, exacerbating Italy's already high state pension bill. The fertility rate is expected to decrease to 1.22 children per woman in 2023, with immigrants contributing to the rate, while among Italian women, the rate was just 1.18 in 2022.
Chinese officials in Changshan county are offering a cash reward of 1,000 yuan ($137) to couples who marry while the bride is 25 years old or younger, as part of efforts to promote age-appropriate marriage and childbearing. The reward is restricted to first-time couples and is accompanied by subsidies for child care, education, and fertility. Despite previous measures to increase the birth rate, China's fertility rate hit a record low of 1.09 last year, with the number of marriages also declining. Critics argue that the cash reward is ineffective and discriminates against women, while others cite the high cost of raising children in China's competitive society.
China recorded its lowest number of marriages since 1986, with just 6.83 million couples tying the knot in 2022, down 10.5% from the previous year. The decline in marriages has coincided with falling birth rates, causing concern for a demographic crisis. The Chinese government has taken steps to reverse the trend, including relaxing the one-child policy and incentivizing childbirth and marriage. However, financial pressures, changing gender norms, and government regulations make it challenging for unmarried couples to have children. The decline in marriages and births has garnered significant attention from authorities in Beijing amid expert predictions of a severe economic impact from a shrinking workforce and aging population.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt argues that the declining birth rate in developed countries could undermine the peril of losing jobs to A.I. Schmidt believes that A.I. will eventually become a tool for efficiency in the workforce, but job losses in the near term might be inevitable. With baby boomers retiring in higher numbers every year, the dearth of young people to replace an aging workforce could lead to a demographic and labor crisis within the next few decades. Countries have proposed a number of policies to stave off the worst effects of a demographic crisis, including enhancing maternal health care services, granting paid marriage leave, and even discouraging abortions.
Pope Francis has warned that starting a family in Italy is becoming a "titanic effort" that only the rich can afford, and pets are replacing children in many households. Italy has one of the lowest fertility rates in the EU, and births dropped below 400,000 last year - a new low. The Pope said the declining birth rate signalled a lack of hope in the future, with younger generations weighed down by a sense of uncertainty, fragility and precariousness. The country could lose almost a fifth of its residents by 2050. At the same time, the population is ageing quickly.