Chapter 1233 The largest economic growth engine (second update, please subscribe)
“We have built a miracle here!”
Standing in the garden of Daming Palace, overlooking Chang’an In the sea of lights, Li Yian's tone was slightly proud.
“Yeah.”
Li Yixuan nodded and said:
"In the history books, there are many old photos of Chang'an. It is hard to believe that it was Chang'an more than ten years ago. At that time, this was a port town."
Nanyang's history books It is more like world history. About 35% of the content is Chinese history, 30% of European and American history, 5% of the history of Southeast Asia and India, and the remaining 25% is Nanyang history. In addition to description, Nanyang history In addition to the historical relationship between this land and the Tang people, more content is about the construction of Nanyang.
The construction of Nanyang will always arouse the pride of students, because they are the first generation of Nanyang people - their fathers came to Nanyang, cut through thorns in the tropical rainforest, and created Nanyang with their own hands. A miracle, how could they not be proud of it?
“When writing history homework, everyone can always write about many things during the pioneering period, most of which were experienced by their fathers.”
“Yes.”
Nodding his head, Li Yian glanced at his son beside him and said:
"Many people say that Nanyang is a miracle, and Chang'an is a city of miracles. This miracle is the result of the joint efforts of tens of millions of Nanyang people. But we will never stop here."
Taking a puff of cigar, Li Yian pointed to the city in the distance with his fingers holding the cigar and said:
"This is just the beginning, or maybe. It is said that Nanyang is just the starting point of everything, just the beginning."
Li Yian said as he walked along the path in the garden, and Li Yixuan was beside him. As long as he has time, he will do it. I will study with my father.
What to study?
Learn to govern the country, learn all aspects of knowledge, and even theoretical knowledge such as science. In fact, many times, Li Yian would intentionally or unintentionally instill in him some knowledge that was ahead of the times, not just limited to science, but also in many other aspects.
“We will move from Nanyang to the world. In the future... the future of Nanyang is not limited to Nanyang itself, but must look to the world, that is, overseas. Overseas interests are directly related to the survival of Nanyang.”< br>
It is about the survival of Nanyang!
Although his son is only fifteen years old, it does not prevent Li Yian from discussing the future of Nanyang with him. After all, Li Yixuan is the heir to all of this from any perspective.
"Yixuan, do you know why overseas is so important to us?"
Thinking of the "population crisis" issue that has recently been discussed in society, Li Yixuan said:
"Is it because of population?"
“Yes!”
Li Yian nodded and said.
"Population is an indispensable condition for economic development and the core competitiveness of a country. From the perspective of industrialization, a population of 100 million is the minimum standard for maintaining industrialization.
The times are progressing and industrialization is developing rapidly , the expansion is getting wider and wider, the division of labor is becoming more and more detailed, new industries are constantly emerging, and more and more employees are needed.
In the 19th century, a total population of 30 million was enough to support it. During the country's industrialization, it was estimated that only a few million people were engaged in industry.
In the first half of the 20th century, a total population of 50 million was enough. For example, before World War II, the total population of Britain, France, and Germany was almost 50 million. After the war, with the rise of automobiles, aircraft, home appliances and other industries, these populations could no longer sustain industrialization. It would not be possible without a total population of hundreds of millions. "
In this way, Li Yian walked, While chatting with my son, I talked about the importance of population.
Li Yixuan thought for a while and said:
"Father, this is what the newspaper calls "labor shortage"."
"Yes,"
Li Yian nodded and said :
"Yixuan, in the process of economic development in Nanyang, the biggest problem is the shortage of labor force. From 1945 to 1950, we introduced almost 20 million people from Tangshan.
More than 90% of them are prime-age laborers aged 17-40, of which 13 million are adult male laborers. Their arrival has accelerated the construction of Nanyang. It can be said that without them, Nanyang would not be what it is today!
However, there are as many as 8 million single men among these. If their spouse problem cannot be solved, it will not only cause serious social problems, but also affect the population development of Nanyang. "
"This is the reason why "trainees" from Japan, South Korea and Saigon were introduced on a large scale that year,"
Li Yixuan said inferences:
"Through the introduction of trainees , not only increased the labor force, but also solved the problem of male spouses in the unit, and increased the fertility rate in Nanyang. This is also what the newspapers call the "baby boom." ”
"Baby boom" refers to the fact that in the past sixteen years, more than 70 million babies have been born in Nanyang. Their births directly pushed the population of Nanyang to nearly 100 million people,
" Yes, it is the "baby boom". The scale of the baby boom in Nanyang is far greater than that of any other country - because there are 12 million couples in their prime of life in Nanyang, and our average number of children per household is 5.9. And the improvement of medical standards. In particular, the extensive use of antibiotics has reduced the infant mortality rate in Nanyang to the lowest level in the world.”
In fact, the improvement of Nanyang’s medical level is thanks to Germany and Japan, especially the latter. In the past ten years, Nanyang has introduced more than 20,000 doctors and tens of thousands of nurses from Japan. Their arrival has greatly improved the medical level of Nanyang.
But correspondingly, due to the large-scale immigration of medical personnel, Japan's medical level has seriously declined. This... we can only suffer the Japanese first.
It is better to suffer others than to suffer oneself!
"A large population of childbearing age, advanced medical standards, coupled with a strong desire to have children, and of course a complete infant and child care security system, all of which have brought about a population explosion in Nanyang. Such a population explosion, for This is a good thing for Nanyang, but... "
The words paused for a moment, Li Yi settled down, looked at his son and said:
"This also brings about a series of problems - such as millions of newborns every year are born, occupying a large amount of medical resources and providing care and education for tens of millions of infants and young children. Expenditure has always been a big expense. Last year, the government spent more than 10 billion South dollars in this area. We spent almost 12% of our fiscal revenue on infant care and education..."
< br>Actually, speaking of it, the reason why I chose to get closer in the first place In the United States, a large part of the factor is that the American imperialists are really willing to spend money. Whether it is the relief agency or the aid from the American imperialists, it was hundreds of millions of dollars every year in those years. For Nanyang, it was definitely a timely help, even Until now, children in Nanyang are still drinking milk powder aided by the United States. Li Yian doesn't know whether Americans are suffering, but the milk powder provided by the United States is really delicious!
Americans are suffering and Nanyang people are happy. Isn’t this a kind of happiness?
Listening to his father's story, Li Yixuan seemed to understand something, and said:
"Father, this should be the reason why some people advocate restricting births. The expenses are very high."
“Yes, 10 billion per year, and maybe even more next year. In ten or twenty years, after the baby boomers get married, Nanyang will enter a new baby boom, and the country’s expenditure will only be greater by then. , but..."
Taking a puff of cigar, Li Yian turned his gaze to the city below the mountain and said:
“This is the price we must pay for national development. In the eyes of some people, population is a burden, but they simply don’t know that population is the biggest development dividend. Hundreds of millions of educated people will not only provide sufficient The labor force will also bring a huge market."
Pointing at the city with his cigar between his fingers, Li Yian turned to his son and said:
"We are different from many countries. We are both producers. A country is also a consumption country, and this consumption needs population. What is the baby boom? It is the biggest engine of economic growth! ”
“Growth engine?” >Li Yixuan said:
"But some scholars believe that the baby boom will impose a great burden on society and occupy too many resources."
Although they are only 15 years old, Nanyang-style education is not just for children While staying in class books, they will also pay attention to social news and express their opinions in their compositions.
Li Yixuan is naturally very concerned about social news and has a certain understanding of the current debates. The reason why his father is talking to him now is obviously to discuss this issue with him.
“It’s just short-sighted. Having too many people may lead to poverty, but nothing is absolute. After all, modern society is not an agricultural society.
Population itself is an extremely rich resource. As long as their productivity is increased and the remaining population is transferred to the industrial and service fields, the wealth they create will be beyond people's imagination
But they exaggerate and blame all problems on the population. "
In fact, like some so-called scholars, Li Yi'an has never been worried about the "baby boom". After all, there is clear proof in another world.
Just like the post-war United States The "baby boom" has promoted the economic development of the United States. With the growth of the baby boom population, the U.S. economy has entered a period of dazzling growth. Sixty-nine years later, this generation of "baby boomers" in the United States has gradually entered the age of 25. In the above age groups, the demand for housing in the United States has increased dramatically, triggering the first real estate boom in the United States after World War II.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the baby boomer population in the United States drove the growth of toys, cartoons, and pop music; In the 1970s and 1980s, the baby boomer population who entered the period of active marriage drove the growth of the real estate and automobile industries; in the 1980s and 1990s, the baby boomer population entered the golden period of consumption and drove the growth of personal computers and the Internet. During this period, “the baby boomer population created the largest stock market gains in history, as well as demand for housing, international aviation, personal computers, computer networks, and sports and leisure tools.
After the mid-1990s, the next generation of the earliest "baby boomers" in the United States have begun to enter the home-buying age. The "baby boom" generation itself is beginning to enter middle age, and the wealthy are beginning to pursue the consumption of higher-end housing.
The retirement period of the "baby boom generation" began in 2006, and the United States began to gradually decline. Because the baby boomers born in 1946 are slowly entering their retirement period. A large number of Americans have begun to retire. Retired Americans have sold a large number of high-risk investments such as stocks and funds, sold their properties in the city, and moved to the countryside.
The U.S. economy has since entered a period of recession. Li Yian does not know how many years this recession will last, but one thing is certain - because there is no second or third wave of baby boomers, the The U.S. economy is in recession.
By the time those so-called population experts figure this out, it will be too late to regret it. But is there any medicine for regret in this world?
No!
Whether it is the decline of the white population in the United States or the negative growth in Japan and South Korea, these are profound lessons. Of course, Nanyang must learn from these lessons.
People are the driving force behind economic growth. Without people, there would be no economic growth.
“They only see the “crowding” of resources by the baby boom, but how many people see the consumption brought by 70 million children?”
Looking back at his son, Li Yian asked back Dao:
“As parents, we always want the best for our children. When a child is born, parents will always buy him a variety of clothes, toys, and books. If those experts check it out, They will find that these children also drive the sales of many home appliances.”
“In order to let the children sleep better, they bought air conditioners, and in order to let the children watch cartoons, they bought TV sets. , because of the increase in population, more and more families have bought a second car for the convenience of traveling. Because the family has a large population, they have added a washing machine, even in the kitchen, in order to make it more convenient to cook for their family, they have added a second car. Many kitchen appliances have been purchased, and these are the consumption brought by children. The consumption upgrade in Nanyang is largely due to the needs of children, not the needs of parents.”
In fact, those first-generation immigrants who have experienced poverty are not only able to endure hardships, but are also particularly good at saving money. Even when Nanyang provides them with various protections, they are extremely cautious in spending money.
Their consumption concepts changed actually after they became parents, and the film and television works were promoted day after day. The consumption concepts changed with the birth of their children. After all, parents are willing to give their children the best Okay, just like in another world, many migrant workers are willing to give their children the best things they can, no matter how hard they work outside.
“...In this way, Nanyang has completed its consumption upgrade without realizing it, and people’s consumption concepts have also undergone fundamental changes. In this change, Nanyang has completed its transformation from a production-oriented country to The shift to a consumer-oriented nation
So. , Without those children, we would not have become a consumer country in such a short period of time.”
As his father talked about the connection between children and consumption, Li Yixuan seemed to understand something and thought about it. Thinking about it, he said:
"Dad, so their worries are unfounded?"
Now he seems to understand why his father always said - you can respect the words of experts, but you must also learn to judge yourself.
"Well..."
After thinking for a moment, Li Yian shook his head and said:
"It can't be said that, their worries are also reasonable. In terms of resources, if Without the injection of overseas resources, it is impossible for Nanyang to become a developed country, and this is why, I would say - overseas is the lifeline of Nanyang. We must do our best to ensure the safety of our overseas investments, because it is related to The lives of all Nanyang people - food on the table, gasoline in cars, raw materials in factories, and so on, this is what we need to protect..."
Casting his gaze into the distance, and then at his son who was almost as tall as himself, Li Yi'an said:
"If you don't have long-term worries, you will have immediate worries. They can point out the crisis, but what we need is to pass Make arrangements in advance to resolve crises - crises are opportunities in danger. The population explosion may bring pressure to us, but it is also an opportunity for us..."
(End of this chapter)