WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Environmental scientists argued on Tuesday that the fear for population aging and decrease was greater than their real dangers in an opinion article in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution.
They cited multiple reports of the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of population aging, mortality-related decrease, and shrinking workforces due to retirement.
Their evidences have revealed that, contrary to some economic analyses, costs associated with aging societies are manageable, while smaller populations make for more sustainable societies.
The United Nations' population report from 2017 states that 14 percent of countries have declining populations, including Japan, Estonia, and the Czech Republic.
The report projected that 32 percent of countries would have shrinking populations by 2050. But aging and decreasing populations may have social benefits.
Frank Gotmark, co-senior author and biologist at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and his co-authors cited Japanese economist Akihiko Matsutani as evidence that shrinking labor pools mean rising wages for individual workers and therefore greater wealth per capita.
Also, smaller populations also mean less crowding, which can cut commute time, reduce stress, maintain green areas, and improve quality of life, according to Israeli environmentalist Alon Tal.
The authors found no evidence to support the popular belief that population aging leads to worker shortages, although healthcare spending does increase in aging populations.
But the authors suggested that the increase is manageable if societies invest more in preventative care to reduce future age-related healthcare spending.
"We have to recognize that continued population growth is a global threat. Short-term economic concerns, while valid, cannot be prioritized over the long-term health of our environment and our societies," said Gotmark.
