Welcome to The Blog
by Ben May on Apr.09, 2009, under Uncategorized
We might be nine years into the new century but I have finally decided to join the information age by running my own blog.
I wanted an outlet where I could conduct a public debate about rising demographic issues. And, yes, demographic issues do rise and fall. Are consumer values changing as a consequence of the GFC? What will be the defining characteristics of Generation Z? What is the (population) carrying capacity of the Australian continent?
But the purpose of The Blog is more than this.
Often I come across bits of information, random data, commercial trends and news reports that I think, given appropriate discussion, could be into a thought line worthy of a broader audience.
And because each month I speak to corporate audiences no less than 10 times and write no less than seven columns each month I am always on the look out for new consumer and demographic trends.
Join me on The Blog and to discuss—no, to define—the key issues in consumer, cultural, generational and demographic trends that are shaping the Australian nation.
Bernard Salt
May 2009
May 11th, 2009 on 4:41 pm
As a head teacher of geography,economics and business studies i am always interested in the trends that we can discuss in high school
May 20th, 2009 on 12:41 pm
I have a soft spot for geography teachers because that is what I trained as, all those years ago. Just think, there’s a whole generation of Gen Ys out there who have been saved from having me as their teacher!
May 11th, 2009 on 5:17 pm
Hi Bernard - Looking forward to checking in to see what trends you’re noticing and generally what’s got your attention. You’re always one to watch! In these days of microblogging, committing to conveying ideas in multiple paragraphs is definitely bucking a trend - but I’m sure many of us will be richer for your decision! All the best with this new endeavour. Cheers, Tim
May 20th, 2009 on 12:42 pm
There’s never any shortage of ideas and angles. What I have trouble with is finding the time to fit it all in. But thank you for your encouragement.
May 12th, 2009 on 7:51 am
Looks good, Bernard. Really looking forwarding to reading your blog…
May 20th, 2009 on 12:43 pm
I’m still learning how the whole thing works but hopefully I’ll get material up and replies completed at least weekly.
May 12th, 2009 on 8:07 am
Bernard: You often refer to the concepts of “Sea Changing,” “Tree Changing” and “Down Sizing” as they relate to people moving from Capital Cities to regional cities and towns.
Obviously the GFC is impacting this trend to some degree, as many people will have to postpone retirement plans or re-think their notions of moving from one location to another.
That said, has any data indicated that the stampede out of the Capitals’ is abating, or is it business as usual-in terms of population growth-for Hervey Bay, Mandurah and Ballina?
May 20th, 2009 on 12:44 pm
During the Great Depression there was a stampede out of capital cities as workers went “on the wallaby” meaning humping a swag looking for work. The principle this recession will be the same though less colourful. Many people will, I think, see the recession as a chance to reorganise their lives by downshifting to a cheaper town in a cute tree change area. Problem is that we won’t really get a handle on this with ABS figures until April next year. Until then it’s all speculation!
May 12th, 2009 on 8:09 am
Always fascinated by your demographic insights, especially about our ageing population. It would be interesting to see if some measures in the budget are mindful of demographic challenges - ie visionary or just reacting!
May 20th, 2009 on 12:44 pm
Maybe it’s just me but every Budget and every election for the last decade has had a policy initiative that I think is designed to “tick the box” of the 65+ demographic. And tonight will be no different. The issue I am concerned about is lowering skilled migration to a point during the GFC to a point where it then becomes difficult to skill-up on the recovery side of the downturn. Also, from 1 July 2011 onwards baby boomers start drawing down on the Age Pension which means more boomers will be exiting the workforce than entering. This again is a strategic issue that Australia, and other nations, must manage next decade.
May 20th, 2009 on 10:17 am
Terrific to see your blog up and running Bernard. Given the predicted shifts, changes and trends ahead in urban and regional living what value/role will culture and the arts play in Australian life? ie more/less important? Where will the emphasis be? different or the same?
May 20th, 2009 on 12:03 pm
I think the GFC is pushing people back to true values which will prompt interest in home crafts. On the other hand the downturn probably does not auger well for the high-end patronage of the arts. If a distinction can be made between high art (patronised by the well to do) and community art (supported by middle Australia) then during the downturn it is interest in community art that will do best. This all comes back to people retreating to local and community values in times of calamity
June 10th, 2009 on 6:27 pm
Bernard Salt
May 20th, 2009 on 12:41 pm
I have a soft spot for geography teachers because that is what I trained as, all those years ago. Just think, there’s a whole generation of Gen Ys out there who have been saved from having me as their teacher!
———-
Dear Bernard,
I’ve just finished reading “The Big Picture”. Very interesting! You are right about the Man drought thing!(Where are the Gentlemens out there???) .
.hehe
I disagree on your argument about Gen-Y Helicopter kids .Not all Gen-Y are lucky and spoil and have that type of lifestyle.You can’t generalised all Gen-Y. I belong to the small % of Gen -Y who wants to make a difference in this world ,have goals and ambitions that they want to achieve in life and follow the lead /learn the steps from Baby Boomers and Gen X .However ,i do think that my traits and characteristics is Gen -X ,but im born in the mid 80s
p/s: I would love to have you as a teacher .I’ll learn a lot from you !
Kudos and thank you
I enjoyed reading your book!
July 7th, 2009 on 1:35 pm
Hi Bernard
I have been an avid reader of your articles and always try to listen when you are on RN etc, and am glad that we can contact you through this blog.
We are putting together a project presently called BASE CAMPS CONSERVATION NETWORK, which is an attempt to help the thousands of people trying to survive on limited fixed incomes, in particular Centrelink Pensions and benefits. At the same time to harness the dormant energies of these people to tackle some of the urgent environmental conservation problems in our severly degraded landscape.
Other important aims of Base Camps is to provide a structure for People Caring for People and Affordable Housing.
It is all financed by redirecting the usual flow of rental payments away from developers and landlords, into a Housing Cooperative based on Caravan and Mobile Home Park legislation.
This will ensure the members have security of tenure, something to do, a community of friends and finally somewhere to age in place with friends around them, rather than being shunted off to an aged care institution in advanced aging.
I would like to hear from anybody who can take part in promoting this ’self help’ project. My email is basecamps@live.com and mobile 0409646993.
November 4th, 2009 on 9:41 pm
Hin John,
This sounds like a worthy project. I hope that you can get it off the ground and that it’s a success.
Kind regards,
Bernard
July 12th, 2009 on 5:50 pm
Hi Bernard, have a growing respect for your gift of insight into stats, translating them for the rest of us.
Can you advise if it’s possible to know what percentage of our nation’s population is currently on the government payroll? ie pensioners; unemployed; govt employees, etc.
November 4th, 2009 on 12:10 pm
Hi Caroline,
Put the tardiness of my November reply to your July question down to my inability to understand how word press works. I am getting there slowly. Not sure of your answer but I do know that it varies quite considerably throughout the lifecycle. It ramps up sharply after 55.
November 4th, 2009 on 9:43 pm
Hi Caroline,
I don’t know this proportion off the top of my head but it is something that you could work out from the census results.
Regards,
Bernard
November 2nd, 2009 on 5:42 pm
Bernard
Great news that there is a forum for discussion on the future settlement patterns of Australia.
SEQ is in a particularly interesting state at the moment with the recent adoption of the SEQ Regional Plan. Thuis plan dictates that of the required 158,000 additional dwellings in the next 20 years 138,000 are to be infill.
FAT CHANCE - this means about 20 new 20 storey towers each year for the next 20 years.
The Qld State govt have certainly set some stretch targets there !!
Any comments ?
November 4th, 2009 on 11:57 am
Peter,
I agree with you on this. There is a need for much–perhaps even a majoprity of–growth to be delivered as infill in Brisbane (which is a city of patchy urban development) but there still needs to be measured and responsible greenfields development with low density housing (though not at the old quarter-acre block’s 1,000 sqm).
November 2nd, 2009 on 10:53 pm
Hi Bernard
We launched our website a month ago. It is a fashion and food focused site targeted at women aged 25+. The content includes a daily blog, Q&As with prominent and interesting people from all works of life. What is your view on the needs, wants and desires of the insatiable, knowledge-hungry modern woman. We are interested in your thoughts and questions you may have for our female readers.
Thank you
Elizabeth Clarke
November 4th, 2009 on 12:07 pm
The question I would ask of women is this: what is it that modern women want? And I don’t just mean of men (although I suspect many men are interested in this). I mean what is the lifestyle that women want and how do men fit into that? Tell me the narraitive of women’s ideal lives from 25 onwards because I see this gender/age group as having undergone significant social chnage over the lst 30 and I wonder where they are headed over the next 30 years. I suspect there is no single answer: that women will tribalise into differtent markets and interest groups which will make it difficult to connect with the totality of this market going forward.
November 4th, 2009 on 5:24 am
I added your blog to bookmarks. And i’ll read your articles more often!
November 4th, 2009 on 12:01 pm
Thanks Arsento
December 30th, 2009 on 8:38 am
I listened with interest to comments you made on the radio this morning about baby boomers not being capable of being thrifty, as previous generations. Does this apply to all? I am of a European background (cusp boomer/gen x) and have noticed a slight difference between my “wog” and “skip” friends. So many of my “wog” friends are talking about just this issue, listening to their elderly parents for the first time. My “skip” friends are more she’ll be right. Is there a difference in thought (if not yet action) between these 2 groups, or is it just my friends?
January 11th, 2010 on 2:15 pm
I am not sure about the imaco of different ethnicities. I suspect that non-Anglo migrants are more predisposed to frugality than Anglos. I suspect this is more to do with the toughness of their childhood backgrounds rather then any inherent differences between races when it comes to issues of thrift.