25 July 2012 - albatross farm 3

Qin: Ooh here’s a good one, the One Child Per Couple policy. Set it up a while back because I heard that overpopulation is bad.
population: No brutal enforcement!
Qin: Been running fine ever since. I do stuff right.
economist: Have you noticed how Japan has some economic weakness lately?
Qin: Yeah, they do stuff wrong.
economist: Actually they’re doing great relative to the size of the working-age population. They just had an extra-sharp demographic transition because they modernized so fast.
demographer: With One Child, you’re going to hit a demographic wall like the world has never seen before.
economist: You’re in for it.
Qin: No problem, my ancient traditions make me super strong!