You say this as if the whole world’s population isn’t projected to peak at 11 billion then stagnate (even africa, the current fastest grower). Like, I don’t get this obsession with focusing on Chinese birthrates.
It is a very weird obsession, especially since we know what birth rates look like in Europe, Japan, South Korea, etc. Basically all developed countries. Even the US would be having problems if it wasn’t compensating with immigration.
It’s also indicative of an inability to think outside of the capitalist paradigm of infinite growth. Just because capitalism is in trouble once growth stops doesn’t mean that socialism works the same way.
And ultimately it is a form of projection, as it is Europe and the US that have much worse social contradictions festering at the moment for which there is no obvious solution within their current system.
My prediction is that, as with all of the “China will collapse” predictions that have been made for the past 30+ years, this one too will turn out to be a nothing-burger. The Chinese government will figure out ways to deal with the changing demographic realities that come with being a highly developed country and that will be that.
Automation will play a big part in the transition, as increasing the productivity of each individual worker means one worker can sustain more people. Where in capitalism automation only exacerbates the social problems by putting people out of a job, socialism can turn automation into a social boon by allowing people to work less and have more free time for things such as a family.
You say this as if the whole world’s population isn’t projected to peak at 11 billion then stagnate (even africa, the current fastest grower). Like, I don’t get this obsession with focusing on Chinese birthrates.
It is a very weird obsession, especially since we know what birth rates look like in Europe, Japan, South Korea, etc. Basically all developed countries. Even the US would be having problems if it wasn’t compensating with immigration.
It’s also indicative of an inability to think outside of the capitalist paradigm of infinite growth. Just because capitalism is in trouble once growth stops doesn’t mean that socialism works the same way.
And ultimately it is a form of projection, as it is Europe and the US that have much worse social contradictions festering at the moment for which there is no obvious solution within their current system.
My prediction is that, as with all of the “China will collapse” predictions that have been made for the past 30+ years, this one too will turn out to be a nothing-burger. The Chinese government will figure out ways to deal with the changing demographic realities that come with being a highly developed country and that will be that.
Automation will play a big part in the transition, as increasing the productivity of each individual worker means one worker can sustain more people. Where in capitalism automation only exacerbates the social problems by putting people out of a job, socialism can turn automation into a social boon by allowing people to work less and have more free time for things such as a family.