[mattmanser]

This is basically conventional wisdom.

Why do you think politicians say they will sort out immigration, but then encourage even more immigrants? They want more workers.

I am not so convinced, given that our jobs are all supposed to be automated soon, we shouldn't have to rely on more humans to grow economically.

In the UK they claim we need mass immigration for growth, but jobs that teenagers used to do are now being done by grown adults, so I don't believe it. We also apparently have terrible productivity compared to other countries. I think that if we stopped relying on extra humans, productivity would suddenlg rocket.

[lpaone]

How do you reconcile this with what is happening in Japan? Do you think huge amounts of automation would fix their problems? Isn't much of their manufacturing already automated?

[zanny]

Is Japan really in that bad of shape? Their rural areas are dying out, but that is the natural trend towards peak urbanization. The larger cities are vibrant, and while their work life balance is (to put it lightly) completely wack, there are plenty of major international players in a lot of markets of Japanese origin - Toyota, Sony, Nintendo, Subaru, etc.

Those companies are growing or at worst sustaining at globally satiated production, to the best of my understanding few go hungry, technological adoption is extremely high, and homelessness and crime are low. Per-capita they keep ending off better off year over year by staying put while everything else gets cheaper. Their whole economy looks like it is contracting with the population decline but nobody is suffering a lack of supply availability to meet their demands for it. Top it off with the giant entertainment sector amount of culture they output globally and that does not ring of doomed society.

[mattmanser]

Some manufacturing jobs are automated. I'm talking about the next phase.

[glenneroo]

Not to mention their extremely widespread usage of vending machines, which, Vox (from YouTube) posits is a result of their shrinking workforce.

[rangibaby]

Reasons vending machines are popular in Japan

- they were an easy place to get beer before convenience stores sold alcohol or became open 24/7 (this is a bit before my time so maybe someone else can elaborate)

- a vending machine requires less space than a store.

- there is not a large difference in price buying from a vending machine or convenience store (10 yen or so).

- It is very hot in summer and very cold in winter, so people like having access to a hot or cold drink.

- a lot of people operate on a tight schedule, so their only "free time" might be when they are walking between places (home and train station, train station and work etc)

- vending machines are useful in a disaster. I believe they will give out free drinks in an emergency.

[molsongolden]

Slightly OT but I once had a Japanese vending machine deliver a cardboard can printed with an apology when it was out of the drink I requested.

The can had a plastic lid with coins in it, returning the amount I had deposited, and the cardboard can contained an instant cold pack, presumably to assist me with managing the heat while finding another vending machine.