tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post6764726798707073138..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: The social and economic pain of demographic changeJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-59168827664137823242008-08-27T15:13:00.000+10:002008-08-27T15:13:00.000+10:00Hi BobI had not known of the Victorian example, so...Hi Bob<BR/><BR/>I had not known of the Victorian example, so that's an interesting historical example!<BR/><BR/>I agree with you point re risktakers. <BR/><BR/>I do not think that the greying of Australia is overstated. That's a statistical fact. The response of us wrinklies is a different matter!Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-1876032679754161282008-08-27T11:16:00.000+10:002008-08-27T11:16:00.000+10:00Jim,You may be interested to know that these thing...Jim,<BR/><BR/>You may be interested to know that these things come in cycles! :)<BR/><BR/>In the late 1800s, the Victorian Government was so worried about declining population levels that it explored all manner of measures to stimulate the birthrate (at least partly for fear of the yellow peril).<BR/><BR/>My mother explored this in her masters thesis "No Rising Generation". <BR/><BR/>Turning to today, there is no simple answer. <BR/><BR/>Developed countries compete for rich entrepreneurs as immigrants, but I'm thinking they don't really have it right. <BR/><BR/>What we need are young risk takers with the guts to go to a new country with no guarantees and the powerful motivation to build a far better life for themselves than they could abroad. A basic level of English would help and assistance with secondary education would be great, but IMHO that's about as far as it needs to go.<BR/><BR/>There will be social problems - I blush when I remember how we treated the Greek immigrants in my home town of Adelaide - but that's nothing new. <BR/><BR/>Also, I believe the greying of Australia is overstated. More and more are finding out theat they can't afford or don't actually want the retirement they dreamed about, and are actually returning to work, with useful skills (and generally at a lower wage than previously). Unfortunately, this is more based on reportage than rigorous study.<BR/><BR/>Finally, I'll be interested to see the results of the next census in terms of age. I think you'll find that the large expansion of immigration under Howard will have significantly skewed matters in a youthwards direction over the past 10 years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com