Japanese choosing to remain single in record numbers, marriage seen as luxury few can afford

[Baobab]

The concentration of wealth has hit many Japanese hard, preventing millions from ever setting up households (in a country where a great deal of housing is abandoned.)

http://www.japantoday.com/category/kuchikomi/view/8-years-into-konkatsu-boom-lifelong-single-population-continues-to-grow?utm_campaign=jt_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=jt_newsletter_2016-05-16_AM

[fasttense]

1. It happens in every society that has an economic crash.

People get married later and later. They put off having children. You have to have hope for a better tomorrow to get married and have children.

This may even lead to large decreases in population, especially if famine and starvation accompany the economic crisis.