[Larry Lucido]

You may have a point about the fertility rate. But do present trends always predict future trends?

In any case, my point was about productivity and industriousness. The Japanese may need to “get busy” in other ways, too. :-)

[Reaganez]

No,but they are the best predictor.

If we can’t use current trends then there is no point in any kind of speculation.

FR can only discuss the present and the past.

How interesting would that be?

[gogogodzilla]

The Japanese need the time to get busy. Their work culture that demands that all the employees stay until the ‘boss’ leaves... only to be required to then go to a bar and get ‘s41t-faced’ in the name of workcenter ‘bonding’. That really leaves very little time for the average Japanese salaryman to actual get busy.

Or for that matter, look for a nice lady to settle down and get busy with.

Or to help raise any children, too.