Again. We're failing to address the "so what?" What does this scenario represent that is _the actual problem_ of the matter?
Among others:
- Crippling depression for many of those who are jobless and living with their parents in a culture that is not exactly friendly to them.
- An increased incidence of health issues that are correlated with depression and loneliness.
- Decreased quality of life for elderly parents who need to support their children within the confines of a difficult, stressful job market and a pension system that sees increasing pressure from an aging population.
- An aging working population that has difficulties filling positions around a particular range of experience, which -- in turn -- can make it harder to sustain the social programs required to help people cope.
- Increased pressure on social spending in the long term, since people who are struggling to find jobs in their fourties are unlikely to be in a super well-paid position by the time they're sixty.
It's not like these people are basking in a Russell-esque life of idyllic idleness, like they're taking a perpetual sabbatical year. Many of them don't want to be in the position they're in.
I wonder how much of this is due to societal pressure vs actualization ?
If the world's message is "you should feel bad because X" it seems unlikely to me that people would feel good about X.
Having a job is a second order attempt to solve many of these things rather than solving the root issues. A job is a technology for solving an issue, I think it's time for a better technology.
People don't want to stay home and play video games all day. They want to be able to create, or master some sort of skills.
I totally get the sentiment and I agree.
I knew a girl once who really wanted to be a teacher. She had a hard time finding a job as a teacher though. I was discussing this situation with her and asked "What is it you want to do?" and she was like "Get a job as a teacher?" and so I probed further, "So you just want to get the job with title teacher, regardless of the duties?" And she was like "I dont care about the job and the title, I want to teach kids and see them grow" . To which i pondered with her, "so go volunteer as a tutor?" . Yes, she did want to earn an income, but her real goal and actualization was by doing the thing... She was able to do some tutoring in the meantime and it really really improved her outlook and was a great outcome for the kids too!
So often the things we want to do only have the barriers we've constructed/adopted.
I wonder what proportion. In some online circles, being a NEET is actually a bit of a badge of honor. In others (in fact, on both sides of the political spectrum), those working regular jobs (in particular low-paid jobs) are prejoratively referred to as wageslaves (or "wagie"). What's more, many hikikomori in Japan have developed pop-culture interests and spend their time consuming media. I can imagine someone in that state of mind finding it hard to get bored, but I can also imagine many who would get bored after a month or two. It may just come down to personal disposition.
I don't know what the results would be, but I can guess that a large percentage of unemployed 30- and 40-somethings living with their parents would very much rather not be. Is it 10%, 35%, 65%? I'm guessing over 50% to be sure.
You can argue that the society is set up wrong. But there it is, with this large cohort of people isolated and shut in. In an economy that still relies on a younger population to take care of its elders.
Robots might one day deal with all productive work, but we're nowhere near that yet.
I guess I should have sharpened the question a bit: "Would you prefer to have a job and family of your own?"
And, to those who have those things: "Would you prefer to be single and live with your parents?"
I suspect the answers to #1 would be mostly "yes", and the answers to #2 mostly "no".
This is the wrong question. The real question is do you daily want to do the things it takes to have those things. So often a goal is made, but the person doesn't want to be the thing that makes them get the goal.
Eg: Run a marathon, but they loath the daily training and food discipline
eg2: Speak a language, but they dont want to do the practice or be vulnerable speaking to another person.
Jame clear says you have to want to daily be the person that ends up achieving <x>
Such a society would be pathologically deranged.
I don't really care what the economy needs, I'm far more interested in what people need.