Clearly firms will not continue to invest heavily forever if both profits and the rate of capacity use are heading downwards.

ECONOMIST: No longer boom, but not yet doom

With the U.S. birthrate heading downwards, at least for now, immigration represents perhaps the one way regions can boost their populations and energize their economies.

FORBES: Why The Red States Will Profit Most From More U.S. Immigration

Changes in perception may be needed as JTC are now looking into heading downwards for spaces housing people -- rather than oil -- in the form of an underground science city.

CNN: Why Singapore is putting its oil back into the ground