United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Population Dynamics in Asia
Throughout East Asia, populations are rapidly shrinking. Japan and South Korea have some of the lowest birthrates in the world, and after decades of fast growth, China’s population is no longer growing at a sustainable rate. Even nations in southeast Asia, such as Thailand and Vietnam, are facing declining birth rates. East Asian nations will have to supplement their native populations with immigrants if they wish to maintain high levels of economic growth in the future. However, nations seem loath to accept foreigners. Perhaps if nations adopted friendlier attitudes toward working women then they wouldn’t have to rely on immigration to sustain their economies. Unfortunately, in many cases this does not happen.
Thus, population dynamics in East Asia is actually a matter of race, gender, and immigration. It is a study of inclusivity. As the world increasingly turns inwards due to the coronavirus pandemic and greater hostility towards globalization, it has become clear that we are at a turning point in history in which the “other” is no longer accepted as it once was. Now is the time to evaluate the old-world order and where we are headed, for we have time to change the course of events. This committee will examine population dynamics as a way of determining what we want from the UN, international relations, and our nations themselves.
Director’s Letter:
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)! My name is Rick Brown, and I am honored to serve as your director for the 2022 conference of the Harvard National Model United Nations.
I am a senior at Harvard studying Economics and Government. I first became fascinated by East Asia when I completed a summer study abroad program in Kyoto, Japan after my freshman year of college. I had the time of my life, and upon returning to campus I joined the Harvard College Japan Initiative and took a number of interesting courses relating to Asia (such as Japanese Monsters). On campus I also work as an ESL tutor and am a member of the policy clubs HUFPI and HUBS. When I’m not spending time with friends, I devote my free time to taking pictures, trying new foods, going on walks, and reading the Economist.
My fondness for Model UN began in high school, when I founded my school’s MUN club to increase the number of government-related clubs on campus. (Although we had a student body that was 1600 students strong, no one had created a MUN club prior to my time there.) After several exciting years of participating in my regional MUN conference, the Topeka MUN, I was eager to continue with MUN in college. At Harvard I served as the Assistant Director of the South Korean Women’s Presidential Advisory Board during HNMUN 2020 and Director of Design during HNMUN 2021. I am excited to finish my MUN experience as your director this year!
By serving in ESCAP you will learn more about issues of population dynamics and East Asia in general. This region of the world will increasingly dictate the issues that play out on the global stage, so understanding it will be useful professionally and will help you to become a more informed global citizen. Population dynamics will matter more in the coming years as nations grapple with relaxing immigration restrictions set during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Model UN is an exciting activity in its own right. You will meet many interesting people and have countless opportunities to develop your leadership and public speaking skills. I hope that your time in ESCAP will be an enjoyable and memorable component of your college experience.
I am excited for the conference ahead of us and look forward to seeing you then. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have or just to say hello!
Sincerely,
Rick Brown
Director, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Harvard National Model United Nations 2022