[gonzo41]

What would you consider real decline?

I would say children having worse prospects than their parents at the same age is a good indicator of it. The big issues IMO are: The housing market locking out young people and The jobs market being brutal to graduates.

Things are not so great at the moment.

[JumpCrisscross]

> What would you consider real decline?

Honestly? When America nukes someone or itself. Empires decline slowly then suddenly, and that final bit tends to involve a tantrum. The only exception is when they’re conquered.

[tasuki]

> I would say children having worse prospects than their parents at the same age is a good indicator of it.

People talk about "worse prospects" all the time. It irks me: you know nothing what your "prospects" are. That's why they're prospects!

> The big issues IMO are: The housing market locking out young people

The housing is still there. All those old people are gonna die. Who do you think will get the housing?

[cal_dent]

i think they'll be lots of kids out there banking on inheritance who will find themselves surprised by how much aged and end of life care cost soon

[philistine]

The housing is a house, but it's also a financial vehicle to wealth accumulation. Younger generations have been shut out of that wealth. When the old people are dead can we be so sure the wealth enrichment mechanisms will be left standing?