The legitimate concern is every economy runs on the assumption of infinite growth. In essence every nations economy is one big pyramid scheme that can go on and on as long their women have at least 2.1 births on their downline.

We need a system that can run well on degrowth, there’s no good reason why one couldn’t work but there are trillions of reasons why people will fight tooth and nail to prop up the current one. People’s choices and the environment be damned.

I think we’re just going to have to come to terms with the idea that people simply have better shit to do.

An educated population has more options to choose from, having kids doesn’t make the cut.

Meanwhile you have Handmaids Tale hellscapes like Afghanistan which has one of the highest birthrates in the world at 4.8 births per woman, is it worth it? I think not.

Ideally countries will accept people’s choices and prepare for a future with less people but the whole system runs on endless growth so I imagine we’ll see some brutal stick action when it’s obvious the carrots aren’t moving the needle enough.

If you’ve only eaten Red Delicious I could see how one would have that take. Gotta branch out and try different ones. Fuji, Macintosh, Pink Lady etc.

There’s an Apple for you out there.