tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455782214242472677.post8269382744018129633..comments2024-03-14T20:55:21.709+09:00Comments on Janne In Osaka: Population DeclineJan Morenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06834641501438709866noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455782214242472677.post-63313954831253906552007-11-22T09:37:00.000+09:002007-11-22T09:37:00.000+09:00Yes, Spain is another example, as is for instance ...Yes, Spain is another example, as is for instance Germany. In another decade or two I think you can add Mexico and several Central- and South American states to that list as well. Italy is along with Japan the one most severely hit and most well-known.<BR/><BR/>Note how it is precisely the dissociation between a conservative society and liberal reality that seems to be a major factor. Largely non-religious and overall culturally liberal northern European states have dodged this bullet (or more accurately went through this in an earlier era), while conservative southern European states have not.<BR/><BR/>There is also, as you mention, the mitigating factor of immigration. Without it, Italy and Spain would be looking at a far worse crisis than now, and my home country of Sweden would not be growing as it is without heavy immigration. <BR/><BR/>The challenge in Japan now is where to find working people during the transition to a smaller population (while a smaller population is fine, fast <I>changes</I> in population is a big problem). One part to that answer is, as I wrote, to make it easy for women to participate in the workplace on equal terms with men while at the same time making it feasible to have and raise children. The other - necessary - part is immigration. <BR/><BR/>But all parts of the solution is viewed with suspicion by many in the public, and is completely anathema to the conservatives in government. A fair number of those really do prefer a (fictional) Japan dwindling to zero over "polluting" the country with foreigners, or having women with equal status to men. This is after all the kind of country where the knee-jerk reaction of police is to look for suspicious foreigners whenever a crime has happened. I'm afraid Japan as a society is going to suffer a lot worse effects over the population change than it needed to, just because the resistance towards necessary change is so high.<BR/><BR/>Spain is a lot better off, I think. You're fairly open to immigration and emigration and you're part of the EU. That will have the effect of blunting the side effects of population change a lot. I'm working on my next post where I'll argue that the countryside decline is inevitable and unstoppable (bad), but will not lead to complete depopulation (good). I'll get there soon; as you may notice I have a really hard time keeping things short.Jan Morenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06834641501438709866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5455782214242472677.post-58519419798793034972007-11-22T05:30:00.000+09:002007-11-22T05:30:00.000+09:00Hej Janne,I've read your post with great interest,...Hej Janne,<BR/><BR/>I've read your post with great interest, while I compare your description of Japan with the situation in my own country, Spain, which also has a similar birth decline. In our case it has been offset by inmigration (which brings its own set of problem), but the countryside, especially in the heartland, is in severe danger of depopulation.<BR/>I am looking forward to your next post...<BR/><BR/>Take care,<BR/><BR/>/MiguelMiguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14907418314189037766noreply@blogger.com