We have had a financial growth dependant on population growth rather than increase in productivity and reduced hrs.
Which is fiscally the best soln to survive , get thru a international resection and come out the other side in good condition.
Down side.. do this with a infrastructure that has been neglected and not planned for the future for many DECADES .
Up side, then spending big money on that infrastructure maintains fiscal growth at the expense of convenience, well after the next economic (7 to 9 yrs) cycle
If the infra structure has been neglected , usually means a increase in social structure spending.... eg subsiding and un naturally change of markets like rents.
If they fiscal policies are not artificiality held up with population growth , they we would have gone down the tubes like Greece, Spain , Ireland, where hey too had introduced social subsidies.
Environment:
Bottom line, environment decreases directly proportionally to population increase....Population increase , means loss of viable land, more effluent, more loading on resources to supply..
Apply the above in retrospect to the 80s, a bankrupt country, cutting back, then once starting to recover , massive social vote catching substities and social engineering change from the priority of society as a hole to the freedom of choice of individual. eg that country needs X number tradesman for next 50yrs, but rather open spots for anyone to study hip hop (whatever) and still be supported by society, while getting plumber is difficult and expensive.
And all this happens simply due to a country voting (or not voting) in leaders who have policies that make votes rather than policies for the long term good of society
Well if you have managed to read thru that.. well done.
Old saying: " A country deserves the government it has , and gets"
We have not had a Government that has has had the overall social and fiscal policies planned long term for over 50 yrs.
What we have had are governments who have either been forced to muddle thru on the back of previous governments policies once a international crisis incident happens, or on recovery have short term vote getting policies at the long term fiscal and social consequences, resulting in a perpetually growing bureaucratic night mare.