Under the starry sky, the lights of human civilization are dazzling, and the light of science and technology, the wings of economy, and the charm of culture jointly compose the glory of this era. Beneath the stars, however, an imperceptible undercurrent is surging – low fertility, a seemingly distant but urgent problem, that is quietly threatening the very foundations of civilization.
At the 2024 Milken Institute Global Summit, the dialogue between tech giant Elon Musk and veteran investor Milken is like a meteor in the night sky, breaking through the silence. Musk's voice, like a morning bell and a dusk drum, has awakened people's awareness of the problem of low fertility. He pointed out that this problem is not limited to the United States, and that China, far to the east, may be facing more serious challenges.
Imagine a country's population size that can be roughly calculated by looking at the number of newborns in the past year and multiplying it by life expectancy. However, should we be concerned when this number is decreasing? The answer is yes. Because the trend of declining birth rates hangs over the head of civilization like a sword of Damocles.
Musk astutely pointed out that prosperity may be the "culprit" that caused the birth rate to plummet. As our lives become richer and technology becomes more and more advanced, we seem to gradually forget the importance of resisting external threats. As a result, the willingness to have children is inadvertently and quietly reduced. This is a paradox and a cautionary tale. We enjoy the convenience of prosperity, but we may lose our appreciation for the inheritance of life.
China, a country with a 5,000-year-old civilization, is now facing a low fertility rate. In 2023, the number of births on the mainland will be only 9.02 million, while the number of deaths will be as high as 11.1 million, and the natural population growth rate will be negative for the first time. This data is like a hammer, sounding the alarm bell. If the fertility rate continues to decline, what challenges will China face in the future?
Cultural inheritance and innovation will be threatened. How can a society without new forces maintain its vitality and creativity? How will we face the pressures of ageing? How to ensure the sustainable development of the economy? These problems are like a sword hanging over our heads, reminding us of the seriousness of low fertility.
Musk's call is not empty talk. His suggestion to have at least three children, while seemingly simple, contains a deep insight into current demographic trends. This is not just a numbers game, but also a respect and cherishment of the inheritance of life. Because only in this way can we ensure the stability of the population and avoid a sharp decline of civilization.
Of course, increasing fertility is not something that can happen overnight. It requires us to start from a number of aspects: improving the social security system such as education and health care; improving women's social status and reproductive rights; advocating family values, etc. The implementation of these measures requires the joint efforts of governments, society and individuals.
In this process, we cannot ignore the power of culture. Culture is the soul of a nation, and it influences the way we think and behave. We need to inspire people's love for life and vision for the future through cultural inheritance and innovation. Only in this way can we get out of this predicament and usher in a new dawn of human civilization.
Musk's call is a wake-up call for the importance and urgency of paying attention to demographic issues. We cannot allow prosperity to be an excuse for us to forget the legacy of life. Let's work together to create a better world for our future and future generations!
Finally, I would like to conclude this article with a quote: "The value of life is not in the length of time, but in how we use it." "Let us cherish every moment and use our actions and wisdom to write a glorious chapter of human civilization! At the same time, we also hope that each reader can put forward their own views and opinions on this issue, because the choices and efforts of each of us are related to the future of human civilization.