Beginning Of The End For The EU?

[vt]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...in-Europe.html

Europe does have a demographic problem. Populations are declining with Germany in the worse position; the EU definitely needs immigrants. But the way they have handled is is not working well.

What will be the outcome?

[gwynedd1]

Re: Beginning Of The End For The EU?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...in-Europe.html

Europe does have a demographic problem. Populations are declining with Germany in the worse position; the EU definitely needs . But the way they have handled is is not working well.

What will be the outcome?

I don't think Germany needs immigrants. They need to terminate their extended adolescence and stabilize their population.

[llanlad2]

Re: Beginning Of The End For The EU?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...in-Europe.html

Europe does have a demographic problem. Populations are declining with Germany in the worse position; the EU definitely needs immigrants. But the way they have handled is is not working well.

What will be the outcome?

The ageing population of country x is frequently stated as a problem for country x but I've never seen a convincing argument to explain why.
After the black death did Europe have a population problem? Not if you were a worker it didn't? The landowners did though.
Does the Middle East have a population problem? Too right! It got drunk on oil and is sitting on a demographic powder keg of young people.
When it is claimed that country X has an ageing population problem what they mean is they need to invest in expensive retooling or can we import some cheap labor please?! It's an investment and productivity problem. Not a population problem.

[gwynedd1]

Re: Beginning Of The End For The EU?

The ageing population of country x is frequently stated as a problem for country x but I've never seen a convincing argument to explain why.
After the black death did Europe have a population problem? Not if you were a worker it didn't? The landowners did though.
Does the Middle East have a population problem? Too right! It got drunk on oil and is sitting on a demographic powder keg of young people.
When it is claimed that country X has an ageing population problem what they mean is they need to invest in expensive retooling or can we import some cheap labor please?! It's an investment and productivity problem. Not a population problem.

Exactly. Its a zero return on investment problem . Rising populations cause relative bottle necks . That creates scarcity and scarcity means easy profits for the leisure class.

[vt]

Re: Beginning Of The End For The EU?

More important is that declining or static populations cause less consumer demand which hurts economic growth. Without economic growth you can't support the ta base for necessary government spending. Ageing populations in high GDP nations are a major reason for slow global economic growth, which is why we are having problems now.

http://www.nber.org/digest/jul11/w16705.html

http://www.economist.com/news/briefi...-not-all-do-so

[touchring]

Re: Beginning Of The End For The EU?

More important is that declining or static populations cause less consumer demand which hurts economic growth. Without economic growth you can't support the ta base for necessary government spending. Ageing populations in high GDP nations are a major reason for slow global economic growth, which is why we are having problems now.

http://www.nber.org/digest/jul11/w16705.html

http://www.economist.com/news/briefi...-not-all-do-so

The Greek problem? People retiring at 50 years old, barriers of entry to all trades.

Life is too good in Greece.

[Woodsman]

Re: Beginning Of The End For The EU?

Meanwhile in Portugal we are witnessing a genuine right-wing coup with the refusal of the establishment there to accept the outcome of an election and the support won by parties who oppose EU austerity. Screw democracy.