E99: The Possibility of Human Extinction with Samo Burja

This episode centers on the alarming issue of declining fertility rates worldwide, examining specific country examples such as Japan, South Korea, and Turkey, and the societal and technological implications of these demographic changes.  Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg explore potential interventions, such as tax breaks for families, and the possibility of extreme measures like state-managed reproduction programs. They also tackle cultural and economic factors influencing fertility and the urgency of addressing this underpopulation crisis to prevent civilizational collapse.  -- 🎙️ Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes. Subscribe on all platforms: https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine -- 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- SPONSORS: GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to make sure they know you heard about them from us. Elevate your investment game with Altea by Alts.co. Discover vetted deals in unconventional asset classes, network with captivating individuals, and indulge in exclusive travel experiences. Ready to invest in pro sports teams or film financing? Apply now at https://www.alts.co/zen and redefine your investment journey. 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast -- Follow on X: @samoburja @eriktorenberg @turpentinemedia TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:37) Demographic Challenges and Fertility Crisis (02:16) Global Fertility Trends and Anomalies (04:13) Fertility Bouncebacks (07:58) The Impact of Modernity on Fertility (09:59) The Unpredictability of Fertility (13:51) The Hopelessness of the Situation (14:12) Future Population Projections and Concerns (17:05) Life Expectancy and Healthspan (17:08) Sponsors: Givewell | DealCraft (18:58) Life Expectancy and Healthspan continued (21:48) Sponsors: Alts | Squad (21:52) Potential Solutions and Interventions (22:33) The Urgency of the Crisis (29:13) The Case for Family Tax Breaks (30:30) The Implications of Declining Fertility Rates (33:17) Urbanization and Population Shifts (35:32) The Future of Industrial Society (37:29) AI and Human Extinction Scenarios (41:02) Cultural and Political Dynamics of Fertility (44:30) The Politics of Underpopulation (50:05) Innovative Solutions to Population Decline (57:46) The Ethics of Genetic Engineering (59:06) Conclusion and Call to Action