What a smaller China means

+ ChatGPT robs students US Edition - Today's top story: Why China’s shrinking population is a big deal -- counting the social, economic and political costs of an aging, smaller society [View in browser]( US Edition | 19 January 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Throughout all our lifetimes – no matter your age – the world’s most populous country has been China. Indeed, it has been that way for the best part of the last two millennia. It is, therefore, fairly big news that sometime in 2023 that will no longer be the case. For the first time in more than 60 years, more people died in China than were born in 2022, putting it on a course that will see India steal its crown as the most populous nation within months. But just because news is historic doesn’t make it unexpected. Demographers like Feng Wang of University of California, Irvine have long predicted this day – just not quite this early. Wang explains that the [writing has been on the great wall]( since the early 1990s, when fertility rates first fell below the level needed to sustain population levels. And now that it has started, the pivot to a declining population is set to continue. Wang writes that an aging, shrinking population will have “huge symbolic and substantive impacts” on China, especially its economy. But demographic change will also reshape society, placing burdens not just on younger working-age citizens but also testing the Chinese Communist Party’s ability to provide for its aging population. Also today: - [ChatGPT can erode student proficiency]( - [How wildfires change the brain]( - [Weaponizing the federal government]( Matt Williams Senior Breaking News and International Editor Will an aging, shrinking population put the brakes on economic growth? CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images. [Why China’s shrinking population is a big deal – counting the social, economic and political costs of an aging, smaller society]( Feng Wang, University of California, Irvine For the first time since 1961, deaths in China have outpaced births – and unlike that one-year decline, the downward trend is likely to continue. Economy + Business - [Inflation hasn’t increased US food insecurity overall, according to our new tracker]( Sam Polzin, Purdue University; Jayson Lusk, Purdue University A little more than 1 in 10 Americans can’t get enough to eat – around the same share of the country that was experiencing food insecurity before the COVID-19 pandemic. Politics + Society - [The weaponization of the federal government has a long history]( Ken Hughes, University of Virginia The House GOP is scrutinizing federal investigators for alleged abuses of power. But will they probe abuses that may have been committed by members of their own party? - [Matteo Messina Denaro: arrest of mafia boss after 30 years on the run is the end of an era – but not the end of the Cosa Nostra]( Felia Allum, University of Bath The mafia boss is the last known face of the Cosa Nostra crime syndicate. But his capture represents the end of an era, not the end of the mafia in Sicily. - [‘The shoes needing filling are on the large side of big’ – Jacinda Ardern’s legacy and Labour’s new challenge]( Richard Shaw, Massey University Leaving on her own terms may be Jacinda Ardern’s final triumph, and one more part of a rich, complex political legacy. Health + Medicine - [Cold weather brings itchy, irritated, dry and scaly skin – here’s how to treat eczema and other skin conditions and when to see a doctor]( Sonal Choudhary, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences; Jeffrey Chen, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Although most skin conditions aren’t dangerous, they can be painful, irritating and frustrating to deal with. Ethics + Religion - [Prince Harry’s portrayal of war in ‘Spare’ is making headlines – but combat decision-making is more complex than his words suggest]( Neil Shortland, UMass Lowell An expert in military decision-making explains the real-life consequences of war and the long-term psychological toll that endures. Environment + Energy - [Installing solar-powered refrigerators in developing countries is an effective way to reduce hunger and slow climate change]( Abay Yimere, Tufts University Many developing nations have little cold storage and lose much of their perishable food before it gets to markets. Climate-friendly refrigeration can provide huge environmental and social benefits. - [Climate change trauma has real impacts on cognition and the brain, wildfire survivors study shows]( Jyoti Mishra, University of California, San Diego A new neuropsychology study on California wildfire survivors found chronic cognitive problems in addition to anxiety and PTSD. Education - [How ChatGPT robs students of motivation to write and think for themselves]( Naomi S. Baron, American University People who have used AI to help with writing report a loss of pride and ownership in what they produce. Arts + Culture - [How Edgar Allan Poe became the darling of the maligned and misunderstood]( Scott Peeples, College of Charleston Is the writer’s appeal less about the power and complexity of his prose, and more about the view of him as a perennial underdog? Trending on site - [Allegations that the charity George Santos claims to have run was fake highlight how scams divert money from worthy causes]( - [This lunar year will be the Year of the Rabbit or the Year of the Cat, depending on where you live]( - [Stopping the cancer cells that thrive on chemotherapy – research into how pancreatic tumors adapt to stress could lead to a new treatment approach]( Today's graphic [A chart with bars that show the number of vacancies each year in the House of Representatives from 1953 to 2021. The bars also show whether the vacancy is due to death or resignation.]( From the story, [Speaker of the House faces political peril from member deaths and resignations – especially with a narrow majority]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [Instagram]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](