Return of the city-state

Re:Return of the city-state by mc32 on Thursday September 07, 2017 @12:02AM (#15189070)

Their problems will be ours in 30 years' time. All industrialized nations will face declining populations and automation --given their demographics, I say they are doing a pretty good job. I don't think there are many economies which faced with Japan's demographics (together with their lack of natural resources, arable land, etc) would do as well as they are doing in their circumstances.

Now, work culture, that's a different topic. They definitely could improve their work/life balance and their gender disparity, etc.

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Re:Return of the city-state by TheAdamAndChe on Thursday September 07, 2017 @05:03PM (#15195686)

> All industrialized nations will face declining populations and automation

We like to complain so much about automation, but I think the main driver of our current economic woes is outsourcing. When Americans have to compete against people in countries that have $1/hr minimum wage, there's no way our lower class can compete. Not everyone has the skills or aptitude to make it to the middle or upper classes. Should they see a declining quality of life just so corporations can see larger profits?

> They definitely could improve their work/life balance and their gender disparity

Japan has a low amount of economic inequality and a high quality of life, so I see little reason why it should change. In most countries, it's still considered a fact that men and women are different. I think it may be your Western values determining what you think should change in a culture completely different from our own.

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