The Rachman Review

Our shrinking and ageing world

Donnerstag, 24. Juli 2025 · 28 min

MP3

Shownotes

Humans have never been healthier or better fed. We’re living longer, but having fewer children - and many countries’ populations are now shrinking. Gideon discusses these trends with demographer Nicholas Eberstadt. Have smartphones played a role in our declining fertility? How will we look after our elderly people? Is migration the answer? Clip: CBC

Free links to read more on this topic:
The fight to revive Europe’s shrinking rural areas (on.ft.com/4f3fDSp)
Population undercounting threatens public policy, scientists warn (on.ft.com/4lKlX3S)
Japan urged to use gloomier population forecasts after plunge in births (on.ft.com/4o7Ri28)
The unspoken truth about the baby bust (on.ft.com/452TVcC)
Brain ageing is the best predictor of longevity, scientists find (on.ft.com/44IOAZ9)

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner and the executive producer is Flo Phillips.

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Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com (ft.com/content/d3a8385f-12bd-45c5-8eb5-2520751…)
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