China's 2025 birth figures have dropped to levels unseen since 1776—the year America declared independence. That's a striking way to frame the demographic collapse unfolding across East Asia.

But here's what matters: this isn't just a curiosity for demographers. The demographic shift we're witnessing will reshape entire economies. The economic fallout from aging populations, shrinking workforces, and compressed consumer bases? That's going to define the next few decades. My generation will inherit the consequences—stagflation risks, pension system strain, currency debasement, asset inflation as governments scramble to cushion the blow.

This is the macro story nobody's fully pricing in yet.