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by w1ntermute 4219 days ago
> Japan's 'malaise' is all about demographics and a 20 year inept Government response to deflation.

Why do you think the demographic issue exists? Low birth rates are due to gender inequality and long working hours, both of which are endemic in the Sinosphere. And the government's failure (which goes far beyond not tackling deflation) is due to its cozy relationships with incumbent firms - a factor that makes it very difficult for creative destruction to occur.
1 comments
enupten 4219 days ago
By that logic, Western europe's low birth rates are due to ... ding ding ding! gender inequality and long working hours. Pah.
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kissickas 4219 days ago
Good point. Without looking anything up, I'm pretty sure the demographic difference is due to differences in immigration policy, correct?
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w1ntermute 4219 days ago
Did you even bother to look at the statistics before making such an ignorant comment? The fertility rates in countries like Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore are much lower than in Western Europe.
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adventured 4219 days ago
That's false. Much of Europe is in the same exact demographic spiral. Europe as an overall, is in worse shape than is Asia. Most of the countries making up the bottom of the low fertility club, are in Europe.

Births per 1,000 people

Japan: 8.07; Singapore: 8.10; Germany: 8.42; Slovenia: 8.54; Taiwan: 8.55; Austria: 8.76; Greece: 8.80; Italy: 8.84; Bulgaria: 8.92; Hungary: 9.26; Romania: 9.27; Hong Kong: 9.38; Portugal: 9.42; Poland: 9.77; Czech: 9.79; Spain 9.88

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DominikR 4219 days ago
Without immigration Europe would have already experienced a demographic collapse.

A society needs on average a fertility rate of 2.1 children born per female.

My country (Austria) has a fertility rate of 1.44, Germany even has a fertility rate of 1.38. Without immigration the fertility rate would be at 0.9 - 1.1.

This would be equal to or lower than the worst fertility rates the Russians experienced after the fall of the Soviet Union (1.1), when even life expectancy fell by 10 years on average.

Today with much better socioeconomic conditions Russias fertility rate has risen again to 1.8. That should give a clear indication of how important socioeconomic conditions are for reproduction.

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CyberDildonics 4219 days ago
It isn't due to gender inequality, it is due to health care, education, and economic reasons.
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