How the economy wrecks breeding
Birth rates do tend to drop in times of economic uncertainty. There was a dramatic decline in fertility rates following the Great Depression in the 1930s, when, for the first time in U.S. history, women went from having an average of three children the previous decade to two.
In each year after the country’s last four recessions, general fertility rates — calculated as the number of women of child-bearing age per thousand who gave birth — dipped slightly. For example, in the year following the 1973-1975 recession, fertility rates dropped from 68.8 in 1973 to 65 in 1976, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Similarly, following the 1980-1982 recession, the fertility rate fell from 68.4 in 1980 to 65.7 in 1983.
MSN
This is terrible, because it means those who can think ahead about breeding are not breeding, while idiots keep surging onward and produce more children even as they impoverish themselves.
Good thinking, humanity.
Very true. We forged ahead and decided not to alter our plans for children, despite the economy, because we know we're generally responsible people who make decent money and will save and provide for our children over, say, subscribing to a better internet service or going on shopping trips just to feel good about ourselves. This is certainly troubling and I'm anti-overpopulation; the only solution here is to encourage the best among us to breed while eliminating the welfare state for those who don't/can't think ahead.
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