Today I’ll mostly be boring you with population statistics. The 2010 South Korean census has revealed that the core working population (ages 25 to 49) fell to 19.5 million in 2010, down 360,000 from 2005. This fall is the first decline in the 49 years in which the census has been running. The reason? A falling birthrate. In 1970 Korean women had, on average 4.53 children. Today the number is 1.22 children.

Implications? Lower consumer spending and a decline in economic productivity. Moreover, within the next 50 years the national pension will evaporate and health insurance will be in trouble sooner or later unless someone can come up with a bright idea.

Solutions? You tell me. Perhaps couples could be paid to have kids or taxed more highly if they don’t. Or perhaps people could be financially persuaded to move to Korea from other countries, especially Africa (a Korean version of Ten Pound Poms if you like).

The only other thing I can think of is robots or people smuggling from the North.