[s1artibartfast]

Tt could be much longer than decades. Japan has had falling births for 50+ years and no indication of stopping.

It is unclear how a country stabilizes birth rates once they start falling, because no modern country has successfully done it.

Some countries supplement or offset their population losses with immigration, which comes with its own challenges.

[nerdponx]

Good point.

> It is unclear how a country stabilizes birth rates once they start falling, because no modern country has successfully done it.

One possibility is that they are continuing to fall because they just haven't reached equilibrium population yet. East Asian countries also seem (from my limited understanding) to have particularly bad social problems that further suppress birth rates, which Western countries don't have.

[tiny_ta]

That's my understanding as well. I bet the 996 culture, 69-hour max workweeks, and constant rat race definitely don't help with this. Add to this a younger generation that thinks that they don't want to make the "sacrifices" that their parents did and would rather maximize their own quality of life (though I don't think this latter is just an Asian problem).

[wenc]

> bad social problems that further suppress birth rates, which Western countries don't have.

Genuinely curious what you think these are? (not looking to argue, just wondering because I’m a closet sociologist)