Among the sheer volume of detail, some clear trends emerge: younger people are leaving Europe’s south, especially its rural areas, in search of work in urban areas of the continent’s job-rich northwest. That’s creating a demographic hole that might presage extended, continuing decline.Rural Greece, in particular, seems to be emptying out, but that had already happened in Italy, as well. Of course, as young people leave a place, they take their future childbearing with them. As you already know, fertility is low everywhere in Europe, but still higher in some places than others. The map below shows this spatial variability:
And what helps to explain this spatial pattern? I refer you back to yesterday's blog post for some clues...
So are we ready to agree that the future of Western Europe is Islamic? There is a virtually limitless number of Muslims, whom I love and whom I'd like to convert to Christianity, who are immigrating to Europe. All the while Europe is eliminating itself with the help of artificial birth control and abortion. I just don't see any other possible future for Europe. As a Californian and teacher at a public university I understand that you probably don't have the freedom to address this topic honestly in a public forum without being charged with racism and bigotry. Alas, Orwell was right, no? "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."
ReplyDeleteHappy that you are recovering well. You are in my prayers.
Thanks for the comment and the good thoughts--I appreciate them! With respect to the future of Europe, I wouldn't place any more money on it being Islamic than it being African (that is where the real population growth is--and most of those migrants are Christian), or it being a revitalized "native" Europe from a rise in the birth rate as women are afforded greater equality in the home, not just the workplace.
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