It is not immediately obvious how people's private lives affect the prosperity and diplomatic existence of a nation. Yet the subtle and indirect influence of such social factors can strengthen a country - or bring it down.
Four central factors have weakened various societies from Rome to China: adultery, low birth rates, divorce, and illegitimacy. These four can devastate an otherwise strong land.
Adultery is - simply put - cheating: when married people are not faithful to each other. Low birth rates damage economies, robbing them of future workers, taxpayers, consumers, and leaving the elderly without adequate support. Divorce creates poverty, complicates inheritance and property law, leaves children with less sustenance, and creates an atmosphere of instability in general. Illegitimacy also complicates inheritance and property laws, and leaves young people with less support during their growing-up years.
Collectively, these four factors destabilize society, and leave people less trustful: a recipe for disaster.
