But if you listen to economists (and Elon Musk), you might believe falling birthrates mean the sky is falling…We can maintain the economic status quo and continue to pursue infinite growth on a finite planet.
If the only way capitalism works is by continued growth, then it’s a broken system, the world is limited in its resources. (Unless we go to Mars and start the cycle again, slowly trashing the galaxy)
Nothing we currently do to earth is even close to turn earth into as hostile a place for life as Mars is today. The technology needed to turn Mars into a planet where humans can thrive, would allow us to pretty much solve all environmental problems on earth for less of a cost. Space is not the solution. It is a great space for science. A lot of satellites provide amazing services for our daily life, but it will never be a solution to fixing Earth right now.
The reason Musk is so afraid is that he as all other billionaires gain their wealth from exploiting workers. The working age population is projected to become relatively stable by 2050 and growth until then is slowing down. Supply and demand are very real forces and a hell of a problem for anybody trying to exploit workers. That is especially true, since workers in wealthy countries tend to favor working less, rather then earning more.
Hard to find good news these days. Population decline is the absolute best news I could possibly hear. Thanks!
How about wealth decline for the rich and redistribution among the bottom 80% ? on an individual scale, working way less and having no offspring should be the way to go. raise pets not babies!
