各國應如何因應出生率下降？

The declining birth rates in many countries, including the UK and the US, have raised concerns about the future population. The term 'demographic timebomb' is often used to describe this situation, but experts in population change do not like this phrase. According to Sarah Harper, a professor of gerontology at the University of Oxford, the declining birth rates are not unexpected and are part of the demographic transition. In order to maintain or increase the population, a country needs a birth rate of 2. 1 children per woman on average, also known as the 'replacement rate'. However, the latest figures for England and Wales show that the average birth rate declined to 1. 6 in 2022 from 1. 55 in 2021. The same trend is observed in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The concern about falling birth rates is mainly due to the economic problems they can cause, such as an aging population and a smaller workforce in relation to the number of pensioners. To address this issue, countries can make it easier for women to have children by providing more generous childcare provision, tax breaks, and extended, fully-paid maternity leave. However, these policies might only slow the decline, not reverse it. Another way to address the falling birth rates is to keep the population healthier and employed for longer, or to have large-scale immigration. Singapore, for example, is focusing on raising the retirement age, training in middle life, and encouraging companies to hire older workers. In the US, a growing number of elderly Americans are continuing to work to fund their consumption. However, increased immigration is also seen as a solution to the problem of lower birth rates, although it is a hot political issue.