Gen Z Protests Sparking Revolution in Asia
Here’s a breakdown of the key points from the provided text, focusing on the issues facing young people in South and Southeast Asia:
* Demographic Dividend Not Realized: Many countries in the region have a large youth population (e.g., 20% of Nepal’s population is aged 15-24). This should be an economic benefit, but isn’t fully materializing.
* Lack of Job Opportunities: A major problem is the insufficient creation of jobs to absorb the growing workforce.
* Migration & Remittances: Large numbers of young people are leaving their home countries (e.g., 700,000 Nepalis annually) seeking better opportunities, primarily in Gulf countries. Remittances are crucial for economic growth, but don’t create lasting jobs within these countries.
* Informal employment: the majority of the workforce in countries like Bangladesh, indonesia, and Nepal is employed in the informal sector.
* high Youth Unemployment: Youth unemployment rates are high – 22% in Sri Lanka and 21% in Nepal (both exceeding the global average).
* Socio-Economic & Political Factors: Discontent among youth is linked to:
* Corruption and Authoritarianism: The nature of the governments in the region.
* Increasing Inequality: A widening gap between the wealthy and the middle/lower classes, particularly impacting young people facing joblessness.
In essence, the article highlights a paradox: a potentially favorable demographic situation is being undermined by economic and political issues, leading to frustration and emigration among young people.
