In this context, Europe may be a tired, aging, and depressed continent, but, as its luxury and aeronautics industries attest, it would be premature to bury it. Relative decline is obvious: Europe accounted for 20% of the world’s population at the beginning of the eighteenth century, but only around 7% today, while its share is expected to be even lower in 2050.
在这样的环境下，欧洲或许是疲倦、衰老和压抑之洲，但正如其奢侈品和航空业所证明的，现在就判定它一蹶不振还为时过早。相对衰落是显而易见的：18世纪伊始，欧洲人口占世界的20%，如今只占7%，到2050年预计将进一步下降。但人口并不能决定命运：人口稀少并不能阻止新加坡保持强大的经济竞争力。