Thought Leadership
The Rise of Post-Familialism: Humanity's Future?
1 January 2012
by Joel Kotkin, Anuradha Shroff, Ali Modarres and Wendell Cox
Publisher: Civil Service College
ISBN: 978-981-07-3896-9 (pbk)
Publication year: 2012
This research report for the seminar on "The Rise of Post-Familialism: Humanity's Future?" looks into the causes, economic and social implications of childlessness, particularly in high income nations.
The research made extensive use of both primary and secondary data, including the landmark work of Wolfgang Lutz, as well as extensive reading on the history and trajectory of the family around the world. This was conducted primarily by Joel Kotkin and Zina Klapper who also relied on extensive interviews of residents of Singapore, and arranged discussions with experts working this field.
Contents
Preface
Contributors
Introduction
Section 1: The Great Societal Shift
The Impact of the Information Age
The Rise of "Singlism"
A Radical Break with the Values of the Past
What are the New Values?
The Decline of Religious and Other Traditional Values
The Deinstitutionalisation of Marriage
The Middle East's Cities of Disappointment
"The New Girl Order"
The Density Dilemma: Post-Familialism's Geography
Family Flight from Density
The Issue of Affordability
The Purpose of the City: Entertainment Machine?
A Letter to the Women of Singapore
Section 2: Future Implications of Post-Familialism
The Demographic Winter
Economic Stagnation and Demographic Decline
The Dependency Ratio
Who Speaks for the Future?
The Political Scenario
Section 3: A Brave New World?
Scarcity and Sustainability
The Japanese Model?
Towards Pro-family Policies
The Three Essentials: Migration, Housing Price and Restoring Faith in the Future
Migration
Maintaining Housing Affordability
Economic Growth and Prospects for a Better Future
What Kind of Society Do We Want?
The Human City
Rethinking the "Cash Nexus"
In the End, It's about Values