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The Economics Show
Why are birth rates falling? With Alice Evans
Feb 21, 2025
Alice Evans, a Senior Lecturer at King's College London and author of The Great Gender Divergence, discusses the alarming decline in birth rates worldwide. She and John Burn-Murdoch explore the economic consequences, including increased pension burdens and reduced innovation. The conversation reveals how changing relationship dynamics and socioeconomic factors contribute to this trend. They also critique the ineffectiveness of financial incentives for boosting fertility, advocating for a deeper understanding of societal issues like loneliness and shifting gender roles.
34:22
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Quick takeaways
- The significant decline in global birth rates is creating economic challenges, particularly with aging populations reducing workforce dynamism and innovation.
- Changing societal values and the rise in singles are hindering family formation, necessitating a focus on improving social connections to combat this trend.
Deep dives
Global Decline in Birth Rates
Birth rates are experiencing significant declines across the globe, with countries like Turkey, Tunisia, and regions in Mexico seeing rates as low as 1.5 children per woman. This decline is impacting both developing and developed nations, as evidenced by England and Wales reporting a total fertility rate of 1.44, comparable to Tamil Nadu. This phenomenon indicates a widespread trend where fertility rates are plummeting regardless of the economic status or cultural systems of various nations. The universal nature of this decline raises questions about the underlying factors driving these changes.
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