This most extreme level can cause complete HF (high frequency) radio blackouts on the entire sunlit side of the Earth, lasting for a number of hours.

So, is that really it? A HF radio blackout? I can’t imagine most of us would even notice if HF were disrupted. I don’t know the physics involved, but if VHF/UHF were hit it would be a much bigger problem.

Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.

I’ve read these warnings for several years now and I still haven’t made up my mind about whether this is actually a bad thing or not.

If you check the numbers Japan has had economic stagnation, sure, but it’s also a stable, modern country with a high Human Development Index. I’m sure they look back longingly to the economic boom times of the 60s to the 80s but even now it seems like a fine place to live.

Perhaps infinite economic growth is not actually necessary…

Yeah I’m no economist but “Japanification” has always seemed like a likely outcome for China. Every so-called emerging economy eventually finishes its rapid growth phase, and then they’ll be faced with slower or no growth, a shrinking population, and competition with cheaper countries with lower living standards.

It doesn’t truly seem like such a bad thing to me, I mean the Japanese seems to be doing alright, but in terms of economic development it’s a big downer.