The hottest Demographics Substack posts right now

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Fertility Links

In My Tribe • 258 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Demographics Culture Economics Education
  1. Having a large family isn't just about genes; social factors and peer influence play a big role in family size. Changes in culture can lead to shifts in how many children people choose to have.
  2. U.S. education policies may unintentionally delay family planning by encouraging young people to stay in school longer. This can create a lifestyle that is not very conducive to having kids.
  3. Population density doesn’t seem to strongly affect fertility rates. Family-oriented people often prefer living in suburban or rural areas, which may be why we see lower fertility rates in cities.

Declining Birth Rates Are a Good Thing, Actually

antoniomelonio • 119 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Demographics Society Sustainability Economics Environment
  1. Declining birth rates might seem scary, but they can actually be a good thing. Fewer people could mean more space for nature and better quality of life.
  2. Overpopulation adds stress to our resources, but overconsumption is also a big problem. We have to find a balance and reduce our ecological impact.
  3. Instead of worrying about needing more people, we should focus on improving life for the people already here. Making life better for everyone can lead to a happier, healthier society.

Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron & demographic “warfare”

Laetitia@Work • 491 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Demographics Nationalism Gender Equality Economic Policies Social Impact
  1. Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron both urge their citizens to have more babies, but their approaches may fail.
  2. Discussions about birth rates should focus on essential issues like childcare, healthcare, and workplace equality.
  3. Boosting fertility involves supporting working mothers, fighting discrimination, and improving care infrastructures.

Top Links 544 The US housing market is stuck. The "dim Sum death cross". How young women are overtaking men & brands are triggering cognitive dissonance.

Chartbook • 400 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Housing Market Economic Trends Social Issues Demographics Cognitive dissonance
  1. The US housing market is currently not moving, which means buying or selling homes is very slow right now.
  2. Young women are becoming more successful than men in many areas, changing the usual dynamics in society.
  3. Brands are creating confusion for people, leading them to think differently about their products and values.

Girlhood, mortality hacks and a theory of "Sound Towns"

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 618 implied HN points • 10 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Music Demographics Podcasts Internet culture
  1. Spotify's 'sound towns' feature matches music preferences to specific cities, indicating local listening patterns influenced by demographics.
  2. Research shows that music preferences in cities correlate with factors like race, education, and income, reflecting unique resident mixes.
  3. Spotify Wrapped findings, like matching to college towns, may align with demographics of listeners, such as higher education levels.
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Solving Greece's demographics

The Greek Analyst • 259 implied HN points • 03 Apr 24
🌍 World Politics Demographics Government Economics National Strategy Events
  1. Greece is facing a serious demographic challenge with a declining population and a growing gap between births and deaths.
  2. The country's Total Fertility Rate has been below the replacement level for four decades, posing a significant threat to its future population size.
  3. The government is implementing measures such as tax incentives and improved parental policies to address the demographic issue, but more ambitious and bold solutions are needed to turn the situation around.

How Old Are You?

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 479 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Workforce Demographics Startups Trends
  1. OpenAI's team has a wide age range, not just young programmers. They have people in their 30s, 40s, and even 50s.
  2. Unlike early tech companies like Apple and Microsoft, OpenAI shows a trend of older founders leading the way.
  3. Sam Altman thinks having older people in tech could be a sign of something wrong in society, but he also notes that older founders tend to be more successful.

Top Links 543 French billionaires. CGT election panel. America's manufacturing disasters & plunging global fertility.

Chartbook • 371 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economy Elections Manufacturing Demographics Billionaires
  1. There are 543 billionaires in France, which shows a significant level of wealth concentration in the country. This number can spark discussions about wealth distribution and economic policies.
  2. America is facing major challenges in its manufacturing sector, leading to concerns about economic stability and job security. Understanding these issues can help us think about the future of work and industry.
  3. Global fertility rates are declining, which could have long-term effects on population growth and economic dynamics. This trend raises important questions about family planning and societal changes.

Three Billion Africans

An Africanist Perspective • 850 implied HN points • 10 Feb 23
🌍 World Politics Demographics Economics Governance Migration Urbanization
  1. African demographics are changing rapidly, with the population projected to reach over 3 billion by 2100. This growth will impact economics and politics, necessitating changes in agricultural practices, urbanization, and governance.
  2. The increase in Africa's population presents both challenges and opportunities. Rather than focusing on limiting population growth, empowering women, enhancing education, and investing in agriculture can drive economic growth.
  3. For Africa's economic takeoff, a focus on boosting agricultural productivity, urbanization, and intra-Africa trade is crucial. These areas have the potential to support the growing population and lead to sustainable economic development.

a peek at the Bookbear Express hive mind

bookbear express • 253 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Demographics Social Trends Lifestyle Mental health Education Community
  1. The average age of readers is around 34, with most being 28 years old. It's interesting to see such a young audience participating.
  2. Half of the readers are the oldest siblings, and the distribution of genders is quite balanced, with nearly equal numbers of females and males.
  3. Many readers feel happier than they did five years ago, rating their current happiness at about 6.7 out of 10. This shows positive growth among the community.

*Open Borders* Back in Print!

Bet On It • 140 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Immigration Policy Libertarianism Demographics Political trends
  1. The book 'Open Borders' is back in print and is considered the author's best work. It's aimed at showing the benefits of immigration.
  2. Despite fears about immigration policies worsening during crises, the author notes that immigration has generally returned to normal levels post-Covid.
  3. The author believes that immigration restrictions are harmful and that there's still hope for better immigration policies in the future, even amidst political challenges.

Election Update #12: Is the Democratic Enthusiasm Advantage Already Showing Up?

Phillips’s Newsletter • 83 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Voter Turnout Political trends Polling Demographics
  1. Many people have already voted, showing a lot of early engagement. This trend is higher compared to most past elections, but still lower than during the pandemic in 2020.
  2. Women are leading in turnout, especially in key swing states. Their participation could play a big role in this election's outcome.
  3. The current election feels more like recent years (2022) than the previous presidential elections (2016, 2020). Polling predictions may not fully capture this shift in voter sentiment.

The Fed Stole The American Dream

The Dollar Endgame • 359 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economy Housing Crisis Social Impact Demographics
  1. The Federal Reserve's actions post-2008 financial crisis led to massive asset price inflation in the housing market, benefiting a select wealthy few while worsening economic despair for others.
  2. The Fed's policies, like suppressing interest rates, inadvertently fueled the tech industry boom, resulting in addictive apps and negative impacts on mental health, particularly among young people.
  3. The economic impact of the Fed's actions includes rising depression rates, reduced birth rates, and impending strains on the retirement system, painting a grim picture for the future of the American economy.

Links to Consider, 10/13/2024

In My Tribe • 273 implied HN points • 13 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Demographics Economics Labor Market Public Policy Social Change
  1. Urban areas are not friendly to big families, which contributes to decreasing birth rates. When people live in cities, they often have fewer children than those in suburbs.
  2. Social views on marriage and careers have shifted. Now, many see being a single working woman as more prestigious than being a married stay-at-home mom, which can affect family size.
  3. AI is changing the job market a lot, and there’s going to be a lot of job turnover. The official job numbers might not show the full picture of these changes.

Juggling for High Stakes, Nate Silver Expertly Keeps All the Balls in the Air

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 253 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Polling Political Analysis Demographics Campaign strategies
  1. Nate Silver analyzes the 2024 presidential polls by juggling different polls and what they say about the voters. He's trying to figure out whether the surprising results are due to model errors or actual changes in voter behavior.
  2. He believes that some pollsters may be hesitant to share results that seem too far from expected outcomes, leading to overly tight poll results. This herding effect makes it hard to know what's really going on in the electorate.
  3. Silver highlights the conflict between different polls, like Selzer's showing a lead for Harris in Iowa and Siena's favoring Trump in Arizona. If both polls are correct, it could suggest big shifts in voter preferences since past elections.

How the US created the “Iran-backed Houthis”

Nonzero Newsletter • 677 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Iran US Yemen China Demographics
  1. The US involvement in Yemen against the Houthis may have been based on misleading narratives.
  2. Artificial intelligence is advancing and could lead to job displacement for both low-skill and high-skill workers.
  3. China's population decline could be linked to unintended consequences of their one-child policy, affecting women's views on childbirth.

On Barbie and Oppenheimer, inevitability and guilty

The Newsletter of (Not Quite) Everything • 530 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Film Demographics History London Storytelling
  1. _Barbie_ and _Oppenheimer_ films are compared with a focus on the inevitability and guilt associated with historical events.
  2. Film _Oppenheimer_ explores themes of guilt and responsibility regarding the Manhattan Project and the use of atomic bombs.
  3. Population shifts in London over the decades have seen fluctuations, with various factors influencing the city's growth and decline.

Sophie Lewis is a revolting dunce

White Hot Harlots • 139 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideology Social Issues Demographics Government Activism
  1. The 'family abolition' movement is seen as extreme and regressive, causing divisions even within the left.
  2. Sophie Lewis, a prominent figure in the 'Family Abolition' movement, advocates for the dismantling of traditional family structures and promotes controversial views on gender and sexuality.
  3. Lewis argues that children should have full legal agency from birth and aims to create a society where kids are liberated from the influence of their parents, leading to skepticism about the practicality and implications of such ideas.

India's population is growing too rapidly? Think again.

Back To Sifar • 99 implied HN points • 07 Apr 24
🌍 World Politics Population Growth Demographics Migration India
  1. India's population growth is slower than perceived, with the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) below replacement level, indicating a declining birth rate. This trend is expected to continue with further development.
  2. With decreasing birth rates, India faces the challenge of an aging population, leading to potential increases in death rates. The country's median age is rising rapidly compared to global averages.
  3. Despite being highly populated, India's net migration rate remains close to 0, indicating that migration is not a significant factor in the country's population dynamics. Population decline in India is projected to begin in the mid-2060s.

Why elections have surprised us in recent years

Optimally Irrational • 62 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Coalitions Voting Demographics Political theory
  1. Political coalitions are really fragile. Just like a team can break up if members aren't happy, political alliances often change quickly too.
  2. Changes in voter demographics are not as predictable as they seem. For example, more minority voters don't always mean more power for one party because voter preferences can shift.
  3. Instability in coalitions can be actually good for democracy. It means different groups can team up and have a chance at winning, keeping the system fair.

The Forthcoming Future: MIT Students and Desired Number of Children

Heterodox STEM • 78 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🚌 Education Surveys Demographics Fertility Research Gender Studies Cultural Trends
  1. MIT students on average want around two children. The desire varies across different demographics and can be influenced by factors like gender and relationship status.
  2. Women at MIT generally desire fewer children, with many expressing concerns about balancing family and career. In contrast, men tend to prefer slightly larger families.
  3. Religious beliefs can affect how many children students want, with religious individuals generally preferring more children than those who identify as non-religious.

Demographics and American Homicides

Patterns in Humanity • 176 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Demographics
  1. American homicide rate is notably high compared to other developed countries.
  2. Demographic differences, specifically by race/ethnicity, may play a significant role in explaining the high American homicide rate.
  3. Homicide victimization rates vary greatly between racial/ethnic groups in the United States, showing large practical differences in risk.

Intermarriage in America Post-Loving v. Virginia

Cremieux Recueil • 253 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Marriage Race Demographics Data Analysis Social Trends
  1. Before Loving v. Virginia in 1967, state laws banning interracial marriage were common in the U.S., stretching back to the 1600s.
  2. Since the legalization of interracial marriage, the rates have increased over time, showing a more mixed ethnoracial composition in America.
  3. Analysis of interracial marriage rates can provide insights into race relations, impact of societal movements like the 'Great Awokening,' and patterns of intermixing across different races and sexes.

Homeownership is down more than you thought.

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 252 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
💰 Finance Housing supply Demographics
  1. Homeownership rates can be misleading if not adjusted for changes in household formation and age demographics.
  2. The reported increase in homeownership rates may be due to an aging population rather than a true rise in homeownership.
  3. The shift towards renting and living with roommates may continue unless changes are made in housing supply and mortgage regulations.

The Demographic Destiny of Cities

The New Urban Order • 179 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Demographics Urbanization Books
  1. Cities worldwide have seen unprecedented growth since 1980, but this growth is slowing down.
  2. Declining population growth will bring economic and social challenges, like older populations and changing demands for goods and services.
  3. Alan Mallach's new book highlights the need to adjust economic models and urban policies for a future with less population growth.

Many people don't know that nuclear power is low-carbon

Sustainability by numbers • 301 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🔬 Science Energy Public Opinion Demographics Communication
  1. Many people are unaware that nuclear power is a low-carbon source of energy, leading to confusion between renewables and nuclear power.
  2. Surveys show that there is a lack of understanding regarding the low-carbon nature of nuclear energy, with less than half of the public recognizing it as such.
  3. Demographics play a role in this confusion, with older individuals and men more likely to correctly identify nuclear power as low-carbon compared to younger individuals and women.

The Population Bomb

Diane Francis • 439 implied HN points • 17 Nov 22
🌍 World Politics Demographics Global Issues Migration Economics Environment
  1. The world's population hit 8 billion, largely due to longer life expectancies and better health care. This brings both business opportunities and environmental challenges.
  2. Population growth is expected to slow down significantly in the coming decades, influenced by factors like women's education and lower fertility rates. Many countries are facing issues related to aging populations and shrinking workforces.
  3. Countries like Japan and Germany show that a declining population can still lead to economic success, especially when they invest in automation and embrace environmental sustainability.

160 million Americans are eligible to be president. How did we end up with these two dudes again?

Silver Bulletin • 358 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Candidates Polling Demographics
  1. 160 million Americans are eligible to be president, yet we have the same candidates running again.
  2. Trump and Biden are not very popular, with polls showing significant differences when matched against unnamed candidates.
  3. Younger voters seem less interested in Biden, especially due to concerns about his age.

On the demographic technology of religion

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Demographics Beliefs Society Ethics
  1. Capitalism faces a risk of decline due to decreasing birth rates, impacting economic growth
  2. Religious groups tend to have higher birth rates than secular groups, potentially influencing future demographic shifts
  3. A revival of traditional religious values could offset the decline in population growth caused by secularization and economic factors

Lawler: Revisions Almost Eliminate Household/Establishment Survey Employment Growth Gap

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 23 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
💰 Finance Economics Employment Surveys Demographics Labor Market
  1. The Household Survey and Establishment Survey both track employment, but there was a significant gap in their growth estimates over the years. Recent updates have nearly closed this gap.
  2. New population estimates showed that previous estimates of employment growth were too low, mainly due to underestimating international migration. This has led to a big revision upward in the Household Survey employment numbers.
  3. Now, both surveys show similar employment growth trends, which suggests that the labor market may not be as weak as previously thought.

Five Global Mega Trends That Will Drive the Future of Work

Workforce Futurist by Andy Spence • 488 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
💼 Business Technology Demographics Global trends Future work Labor Market
  1. India will surpass China as the most populous country in 2023, impacting global work trends.
  2. Global industries will evolve, creating new job opportunities like robo-taxis and personalized medicine.
  3. Work is unbundling into tasks and rebundling into new teams like techie cooperatives and DAOs.

Lawler: New Census Population Estimates Show Massively Higher Population Growth

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 33 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Demographics Migration Population Growth Housing
  1. The new Census estimates show that the U.S. population is growing much faster than before. This growth is mainly due to better counting of international migrants.
  2. Population growth from 2021 to 2024 is estimated to be over 3 million more than previous estimates. Most of this increase comes from net international migration.
  3. Revised population numbers can affect employment surveys, meaning we might see significant updates when the numbers are adjusted next year.