Dropping fertility rates =/= Dropping fertility?

Just an idea that I had the other day, what if the dropping fertility rate in places like Japan and europe have less to do with actual fertility in those countries, and more with it being expensive, so no one's having them? Places like India, where you need lots of kids to support you in old age, or you know, have one of them survive if you're poor, makes sense that way too.

I won't be on until later today, but I'd be interested to see what you guys think. I don't have any data to back this up, it was just a musing, but if you find anything I'd be happy to Look at it.

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so are we talking about about fertility rates or actual birthrate here?

hashtagsarestupid

I'm fairly sure he means birth rates. I don't even know how you would calculate an entire country's fertility rate.

As for countries with declining populations like Japan and Germany, I think it's because yes, the younger generations don't want to deal with the economic and social responsibilities that comes with having a child. Too bad though, it's gonna bite them in the ass later when too many people are leaving the work force and too little people are entering it. It's kinda similar to what's happening in US today.

As for countries like India, it's mostly because in rural areas, farmers need to have lots of boys in their families. They provide manual labor and gets money and property from dowry (though it's illegal).

edited 29th Aug '11 2:18:55 AM by Chroyl

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That is of course the reason. I'm kinda surprised actually, that you put it in a way, which gives the idea, this would be far fetched(?). Nobody's getting less fertile. Living just gets more and more expansive each year and especially academics or businesspeople don't have the required time.

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I'm pretty sure that's the accurate explanation.

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Um... as far as I know no one's ever suggested that there were biological causes. It's pretty obvious that it can only be due to societal issues involving the social value of having children, access to birth control, and issues like that.

You're exactly right, but the premise of this topic is wrong, in that this is what everyone already knows and thinks.

edited 29th Aug '11 6:19:45 AM by Clarste

@Chroyl: That's what immigration solves.

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@Op: thats exactly what it is.

It has nothing to do with declining fertility in women. It has to do with women choosing to have less kids and having a say in when they have kids,

@OP: looks like this is an open and shut case.

hashtagsarestupid

Erock: You can't replenish the entire population with immigration alone.

Yes, but people still have children.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

So what if there is a disproportionate number of old people? In the U.S., there wouldn't be enough jobs available for everyone anyway, so a lower birthrate seems like a natural course to take. In fact, a great deal of our woes can be traced to overpopulation.

edited 30th Aug '11 9:57:12 PM by johnnyfog

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It's gonna be a problem yes. But that's more of a temporary phnomenon.

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@Coju: Yeah, but if the birthrate is already 1.9 or so, you can easily bump the rate of increase in population up above 2.1 with immigration.

Which Erock already said, but I just thought I'd clarify.

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That requires you have a native birthrate of 1.9. Many countries have it lower.