001 - Shape of Things to Come: Demographic Decline, Economic Stagnation and Geopolitical Instability
Birthrates have collapsed across much of the world. Most developed countries, including the United States, face a future of population aging and slowing economic growth. Workforces will shrink, fiscal burdens will rise, and public debt will mount. Zero-sum isolationism and protective trade barriers may spread. While populations in some parts of the emerging world are still growing (think Sub-Saharan Africa), others (think China, Russia, or Iran) are experiencing unprecedented demographic decline. All of this could be destabilizing. Our presenters examine how demographic trends are reshaping the economic and geopolitical landscape of the twenty-first century. They will also explore possible strategies for staving off demographic and economic decline, from enacting pro-natal policies to increasing immigration and extending work lives.
Speakers:
Mr. Thomas S. Terry
Neil Howe
Richard Jackson