January 16, 2017 – One Finite Planet

One Finite Planet

Topics and Subtopics.

Ageing population: a problem, or only cast as a problem by those with an agenda?

January 16, 2017 January 16, 2017

Have you heard of the ‘ageing population problem’? Why is it a problem that people are living longer?

Is the suggestion that retirees can never be productive, but children can be put to work? Really?

Or is the real issue that both sides of the political spectrum find either economic immigration reasons to apply confirmation bias which leads to arguing for a return to the population explosion, and immoral immigration policies that fuel the far right and erode the living standards of societies’ children.

This page looks at the real issues underpinning an ‘ageing population’. The reality is: an ageing population itself is not a real problem, but suggested measures to address it are real problems.

Population Growth Advocacy: Mislead Immigration Support, or Greed & Tribalism?

In Australia, as in many countries, there appears to be almost universal acceptance of perpetual population growth. Population growth is seen as:

Desirable because it is the path to economic prosperity.
Inevitable.
A requirement for supporting refugees.

None reflect reality. So why is it, that so few contemplate a finite population target, given we live on a finite planet?

Population & Immigration

Population & immigration: Conflict and deception.

Immigration is short-term symptom of a potential long-term problem of the challenges to targeting an ideal population. We live an overpopulated planet where many governments use immigration to boost what would be otherwise falling population numbers while blaming 'illegals' for the very real negative consequences for their citizens from the boost to the population. It can be argued that reaching sustainability would address the question of overpopulation, but what would it take to end the need for deception, resolve the conflict, and have everyone work towards the conditions experienced in the countries with highest levels of happiness?

The Economy: Farming Humanity or Seeking Happiness?

Ideal/optimum human population: How many people can, or should, each country, and the whole planet support?

Commenced: April 11, 2023 Updated: May 1st, 2024

2024 May 6th: Second edition, fully revised to hopefully improve clarity.

It seems like the human population has forever been growing, but any analysis makes it clear growth must stop eventually at some level. Perhaps consider that the wealthier each person, the less people the planet can support when answering the question of at what level should growth stop? Do we go for the maximum possible people just before everything collapses, even if average living standards could be far better with a smaller population? When caged hens are farmed for eggs, people advocate for a lower population to allow living free-range for a better existence, yet with people being farmed by multinationals, billionaires and politicians growing the human population to grow the economy, it seems that denser and denser housing and reduced resources per person for human workers is accepted. Most countries seem to agree that global population growth should end but and state that ends its own population growth faces economic disaster.

The economy is about consumer spending not production: Confirmed by Swiftonomics.

Commenced: March 18, 2024

All economics seem to agree that the Taylor Swift Eras tour boosted the economy everywhere she went, but while it is clear that there was a boost to spending, it is not so clear people benefit beyond getting to enjoy a concert. This is a look at whether, at least in some cases, factors that boost an economy may do nothing to increase wealth within that economy and could even reduce wealth within that economy.

Economic Activity: An Obsession with an Illusion of Prosperity.

Commenced: October 20, 2021 Updated: November 11th, 2022

2022 Nov 11: Added Australia 'low wages by design' example.

Its the economy stupid. Voters want the best economic outcome, but by measuring the economy using 'Economic Activity', governments can effectively cheat the public. In many western societies, instead of maximum prosperity, governments often pursue maximum economic activity, which benefits big business and governments, but can result in an economy which in theory is going well, while at the same time individuals fall behind. This is the kind of economic policy makes frustrated voters turn to Trump and Brexit.

The Population Growth Economy Ponzi schemes.

Commenced: February 24, 2015 Updated: July 1st, 2022

2022 July 6th: Refresh and reformat.

When it dawned on me that global economy is effectively a Ponzi scheme, it felt was a 'light bulb' moment'. But has anyone else seen this? I did an internet search and was not surprised to find that it has, indeed, dawned on many others as well. If you do a search, as I did, you will find many insights into this topic and that there are several different ways the global economy can be seen as a Ponzi scheme. Scary!

Ghost cities and ghost homes: housing finance crisis?

Commenced: June 15, 2022 Updated: June 22nd, 2022

2022 June 22 : Updated to add information on how desperate developers now accept grain as a deposit.

“Anyone who believes in indefinite growth in anything physical, on a physically finite planet, is either mad or an economist.”Attributed to Kenneth Boulding in: United States. Congress. House (1973) This applies to not just to population growth, but just maybe also to the growth in value of housing. This page is a look at 'ghost cities' and 'ghost homes', and the window they provide into how distorted investment can become in the pursuit of growth. The end result of the distortions can be overvalued assets funded by highly leveraged ordinary citizens. If that is the case, not just with ghost cities but beyond, the correction will clearly present a financial crisis.

Free Trade: Why everybody has budget deficits

Commenced: July 9, 2016

Governments of developed countries all around the world are running budget deficits right now, and the reason follows from free trade. I have posted before on how every ethical decision our society makes comes at an economic cost. In many cases, this economic cost is a government cost and require increasing taxes, but in today’s […]

Boris Johnson: Folly, Or Defence against EU Imperial Overlords?

Commenced: September 5, 2019

When the referendum in Britain came down as supporting ‘Brexit’ I was deeply saddened. disappointed. While there were perhaps valid reasons to support either leave or remain, it is clear that even if the number of racists and bigots is a very small percentage, that percentage was on the side of ‘leave’ in a vote […]

Ageing population: a problem, or only cast as a problem by those with an agenda?

Commenced: January 16, 2017 Updated: January 16th, 2017

*2023 April 6 th: added synopsis, but still some updates required.

Have you heard of the ‘ageing population problem’? Why is it a problem that people are living longer? Is the suggestion that retirees can never be productive, but children can be put to work? Really? Or is the real issue that both sides of the political spectrum find either economic immigration reasons to apply confirmation bias which leads to arguing for a return to the population explosion, and immoral immigration policies that fuel the far right and erode the living standards of societies' children. This page looks at the real issues underpinning an 'ageing population'. The reality is: an ageing population itself is not a real problem, but suggested measures to address it are real problems.

Limits to free trade: moral outcomes

Commenced: May 10, 2016

Tariffs have almost universally been declared a bad idea. My point is that while it may be true that tariffs do not normally produce positive economic outcomes, tariffs may be necessary to achieve positive moral outcomes. Almost every regulation we place on business hopefully achieves a positive moral impact, but does come at an economic cost […]

Monopolies: A global trend?

Commenced: February 11, 2015 Updated: February 11th, 2015

2015 Feb 11 : Published

The wealth differential is increasing not just between rich and poor individuals, by in the corporate world as well. I have been thinking about the increasing trend towards monopolies and the problems with modern government structure and monopolies. Starting with some thoughts on the background, and then why monopolies may be on the increase. The […]