Birth dearth
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Birth dearth is a neologism referring to falling fertility rates. In the late 1980s, the term was used in the context of American and European society.[1] The use of the term has since been expanded to include many other industrialized nations. It is often cited as a response to overpopulation, but is not incompatible with it. The term was coined by Ben J. Wattenburg in his 1987 book by that same name.
Sociologist and author Ben Wattenburg also pointed out that to maintain Zero population growth some percentage of families need to have more than two children, to make up for the fact that others have one or zero children, be it due to infertility, other medical problems, or choice. Immigration is also a factor.
Countries and geographic regions that are currently experiencing falling population include Russia, Europe, Japan, and populations of people of these descents in other countries such as in the United States.
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[edit] Russia
Russia is often mentioned in articles concerning birth dearth because of its rapidly declining population, and the proposal by Vladimir Putin to offer women additional benefits for having multiple children. It predicted that Russia's population will be an estimated 111 million in 2050, opposed to 147 million as of the year 2000 according to the UN World Population Prospects report (2004 Revision, middle variant).
[edit] Europe
As is well known and widely publicized, Europe holds a position in the world as one of the few major geographic region that will decline in population in the coming years as opposed to growing. Indeed, Europe is expected to shed hundreds of millions by 2050 alone with the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) falling below the level necessary for replacement (Further information: Sub-replacement fertility and Population decline).[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Be Fruitful and Multiply", Jamar Jacoby, New York Times, July 12, 1987
[edit] External links
- "Birth Dearth", Michael Meyer, Newsweek, September 27, 2004
- "Behind the Birth Dearth", Robert J. Samuelson, Washington Post, May 24, 2006
- The "End of species" hypothesis Does demographic decline mark the end of humanity's life cycle? May ET civilizations follow the same path?
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