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> No country has managed to reverse the trend of declining birth rates. Perhaps we can learn from the past? Birthrates between the world wars were below repla
by eru 2mo ago
> No country has managed to reverse the trend of declining birth rates.
Perhaps we can learn from the past? Birthrates between the world wars were below replacement level in much of the western world. Then the trend reversed for a while.
- rcxdude 2mo agoQuestion is why was this the case? I feel a natural explanation is it's a reaction to there being less people around on account of the huge number of deaths, in which case there's probably little reason to worry: if birth rate increases as population drops then the system should tend to equalise itself. If it's something else related to a gigantic war specifically then it's a bit less certain (one very important question is was the growth just a displacement in time from all the couples who could not have a child during the war but now can?).
- eru 2mo agoI am not so sure about 'lots of people' died causation. Eg I don't think we'll see a babyboom after the war in Ukraine ends. And just look at the interwar years themselves: lots and lots of people died in World War I, but that didn't trigger a babyboom. Just the opposite.
- Spartan-S63 2mo agoFor at least half that time period between world wars, there was significant economic depression. It might simply be the economy. The vibes are bad and have been bad since the late 70s because wealth distribution is lopsided and income growth is stagnant.
- eru 2mo ago> It might simply be the economy. The vibes are bad and have been bad since the late 70s because wealth distribution is lopsided and income growth is stagnant. Seems unlikely: the decrease in fertility rates is pretty universal, but what your are giving as reasons here seem pretty US specific.