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More people in Europe are dying than are being born, according to a new report co-authored by a Texas A&M University demographer. In contrast, births exceed deaths, by significant margins, in Texas and elsewhere in the U.S., with few exceptions.
Texas A&M Professor of Sociology Dudley Poston, along with Professor Kenneth Johnson, University of New Hampshire, and Professor Layton Field, Mount St. Mary's University, published their findings in Population and Development Review this month.
The researchers find that 17 European nations have more people dying in them than are being born (natural decrease), including three of Europe's more populous nations: Russia, Germany and Italy. In contrast, in the U.S. and in the state of Texas, births exceed deaths by a substantial margin.
http://phys.org/news/2016-01-people-europe-dying-born.html
[Abstract]: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2015.00089.x/abstract (DOI: 10.1111/j.1728-4457.2015.00089.x)
[Source]: Is Europe Dying
(Score: 4, Informative) by Whoever on Saturday January 16 2016, @06:12AM
This isn't a new phenomenon. Italy has had a declining population for a while. The UK population is only sustained by immigrants (and their children) having a higher birth rate than non-immigrants. The north of Italy, especially, has many couples with no children or perhaps one child. 20 years ago, when I spent some time there, the idea of having 3 children was looked upon almost with horror.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by frojack on Saturday January 16 2016, @06:48AM
But its not like the country (any of them) is really at a shortage for labor yet.
The problem in most those countries is one of propping up their welfare/socialized state payments system.
Its strictly a monetary issue at this time. Their farms are productive, and their industry is modern. the number of workers of the type they need won't be found in Syria, or North Africa. Right now they just need wage earners to tax.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 16 2016, @08:00AM
In the UK the tobacco taxes bring in many times more money than the smokers cost the NHS.
If people want to die for their country why not let them?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by MostCynical on Saturday January 16 2016, @09:28AM
AC is correct:
https://fullfact.org/factchecks/does_smoking_cost_as_much_as_it_makes_for_the_treasury-29288 [fullfact.org]
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 3, Insightful) by mtrycz on Saturday January 16 2016, @12:32PM
That's the most cynical thing I've heard this year.
In capitalist America, ads view YOU!
(Score: 1) by Francis on Saturday January 16 2016, @02:32PM
Because we don't cut people off from health care because they fuck up their bodies with poisons. Also, most of the things that cut down life expectancies for the individual cause social problems for other people. Smoking has 2nd hand smoke; drinking has violence, drunk driving and all sorts of other consequences.
Even things like lack of exercise and poor nutrition have social costs for people that are choosing to live a healthier life.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 16 2016, @11:53AM
The problem in most those countries is one of propping up their welfare/socialized state payments system.
Not even that, because dead people don't require doctors and hospitals and new roads and pensions etc. The REAL problem is that banks find it hard to expand credit when no new babies are being born and there's no demand for new construction when buildings stand empty. Property prices tend to fall when that happens, and this is bad (for the banks, since their books and business model are based on ever rising property prices).
(Score: 1) by Francis on Saturday January 16 2016, @02:29PM
Japan is closest to the point of not having enough laborers to handle the needs of the economy. Most countries don't have that problem because they import labor to handle the problem. Unless you're in a war torn 3rd world nation, there's a good chance that there's somebody out there that would love to come work so they could improve their life.
As I recall, the only reason the US' population remains growing is because of immigration. Which is a large part of why the population is on track to no longer be majority white.