Errikland
21-03-2007, 01:13
OOC: Yes, I do realize this really should have been posted yesturday, but I had no time.
ENN Special Report:
Population Landmark: 2 billionth Errikan in Errikland
Today a new Errikan was born in Errikland, bringing the total population of the fatherland to the major milestone of 2 billion. The official two billionth person was a James Christian, born to Charles and Jennifer Christian at midnight today. Shortly after the birth, the Billion Foundation announced its intentions to donate $2 billion EM to the lucky boy to commemorate the occasion.
The overjoyed father had this to say:
“We are as thrilled as any parents would be at the birth of a son, and we are especially proud for him; he is a part of Errikan history from birth!”
When told about the money to be donated by the Billion Foundation, they were unable to offer any comment.
This major population landmark, while a cause for celebration, has also led some to worry about the future: where will we all live when another such milestone is reached?
Experts say that there will be no crowding problem in the foreseeable future; much of the country remains very lightly settled, especially the vast eastern plains, which have some of the lowest population densities of temperate, habitable land in much of Mucro. Also, the Errikan territory in Arterus maintains vast areas of almost equally untamed and desirable land, and the African colony has a very low Errikan population.
The problem of supplying the growing population is even less of an issue; more and more efficient farming is actually contributing to overproduction, and the industrial sector is close behind. If anything, the population needs to grow faster.
However, that, according to many experts, is not the going trend.
In recent years, the rate of population growth has actually declined, according to national and provincial census data. As we celebrate our two billionth Errikan to occupy the fatherland, experts say that it may be a long time before we reach any more such celebrations. Though some of this deceleration can be blamed on migration, with millions of Errikans moving to colonial territory, the overall trend cannot; in fact, the high point for colonial migration coincided with a high point for population growth. What, then, is causing this shift?
Some offer that it is the increased mechanization of the industrial workforce (with the near-elimination of unskilled labor based jobs domestically) and the shrinking of the lowest classes (the traditional source of growth in many modern nations) which result in smaller birthrate.
Expert Richard Madison disagrees, arguing that “industrial mechanization would not directly influence birthrates of the industrial under classes, as no one has children based upon the number of unskilled labor jobs are currently available.” “In fact,” he notes, “the total number of jobs available per capita have increased, albeit by a small amount, rather than decreased. They are just white collar, higher up, and better paying.”
As for the shrinking of the lower class, he counters that, in Errikan society the bulk of the growth has always been from rural (middle to higher classed), rather than urban and industrial (lower classed), sources. That, according to Madison, is the source of the shift.
As the past few years have seen a greater growth of white collar jobs, and, to the great joy of the automobile industry, suburbia. Following the civil war, a vast majority of the population lived agricultural lives. Almost thirty years later, that number has shrunk to a plurality, with more and more taking up suburban lives. A great number of factors contribute to this, among them the increased efficiency of farming, including mechanization, which allow for greater farm output with less people, and the cheapening of industrial work, which allows companies to expand, thus expanding their white collar employment. While a typical Errikan mother in an agricultural family is most likely to have 8-10 children, a similar mother in suburbia is more likely to have 4-8 children, explaining how more suburbs would mean slower growth.
Will this trend eventually depopulate the fatherland?
“Not likely,” Madison claims, “This is just the latest demographic trend. In the years prior to the civil war the urban population was exploding, and afterwards the rural population experienced its own period of growth. This will eventually balance out to equilibrium as well.”
So celebrate the two billionth birth, and don’t worry, our futures are secure.
ENN Special Report:
Population Landmark: 2 billionth Errikan in Errikland
Today a new Errikan was born in Errikland, bringing the total population of the fatherland to the major milestone of 2 billion. The official two billionth person was a James Christian, born to Charles and Jennifer Christian at midnight today. Shortly after the birth, the Billion Foundation announced its intentions to donate $2 billion EM to the lucky boy to commemorate the occasion.
The overjoyed father had this to say:
“We are as thrilled as any parents would be at the birth of a son, and we are especially proud for him; he is a part of Errikan history from birth!”
When told about the money to be donated by the Billion Foundation, they were unable to offer any comment.
This major population landmark, while a cause for celebration, has also led some to worry about the future: where will we all live when another such milestone is reached?
Experts say that there will be no crowding problem in the foreseeable future; much of the country remains very lightly settled, especially the vast eastern plains, which have some of the lowest population densities of temperate, habitable land in much of Mucro. Also, the Errikan territory in Arterus maintains vast areas of almost equally untamed and desirable land, and the African colony has a very low Errikan population.
The problem of supplying the growing population is even less of an issue; more and more efficient farming is actually contributing to overproduction, and the industrial sector is close behind. If anything, the population needs to grow faster.
However, that, according to many experts, is not the going trend.
In recent years, the rate of population growth has actually declined, according to national and provincial census data. As we celebrate our two billionth Errikan to occupy the fatherland, experts say that it may be a long time before we reach any more such celebrations. Though some of this deceleration can be blamed on migration, with millions of Errikans moving to colonial territory, the overall trend cannot; in fact, the high point for colonial migration coincided with a high point for population growth. What, then, is causing this shift?
Some offer that it is the increased mechanization of the industrial workforce (with the near-elimination of unskilled labor based jobs domestically) and the shrinking of the lowest classes (the traditional source of growth in many modern nations) which result in smaller birthrate.
Expert Richard Madison disagrees, arguing that “industrial mechanization would not directly influence birthrates of the industrial under classes, as no one has children based upon the number of unskilled labor jobs are currently available.” “In fact,” he notes, “the total number of jobs available per capita have increased, albeit by a small amount, rather than decreased. They are just white collar, higher up, and better paying.”
As for the shrinking of the lower class, he counters that, in Errikan society the bulk of the growth has always been from rural (middle to higher classed), rather than urban and industrial (lower classed), sources. That, according to Madison, is the source of the shift.
As the past few years have seen a greater growth of white collar jobs, and, to the great joy of the automobile industry, suburbia. Following the civil war, a vast majority of the population lived agricultural lives. Almost thirty years later, that number has shrunk to a plurality, with more and more taking up suburban lives. A great number of factors contribute to this, among them the increased efficiency of farming, including mechanization, which allow for greater farm output with less people, and the cheapening of industrial work, which allows companies to expand, thus expanding their white collar employment. While a typical Errikan mother in an agricultural family is most likely to have 8-10 children, a similar mother in suburbia is more likely to have 4-8 children, explaining how more suburbs would mean slower growth.
Will this trend eventually depopulate the fatherland?
“Not likely,” Madison claims, “This is just the latest demographic trend. In the years prior to the civil war the urban population was exploding, and afterwards the rural population experienced its own period of growth. This will eventually balance out to equilibrium as well.”
So celebrate the two billionth birth, and don’t worry, our futures are secure.