The Death of Birth — Our Dismal Fertility Rates

Those, who think that the collapse of fertility rates threatens only the most highly developed nations, should take a look at this article, published in “The Nation.” (Thailand [per capita GDP $9,200 in 2006] is marching toward high development, but it isn’t, for example, Japan or France [per capita GDP $33,100 and $31,200, respectively in 2006].)

As the article states, “Kua Wongboonsin, a population studies expert from Chulalongkorn University, said the problem of dropping fertility rates needed immediate attention.” The country’s fertility rate has fallen from 6.3 in 1964 to 1.61 in 2005 (1.64 2007 estimate). According to Wongboonsin, social and economic problems are bound to result.

The world would do well to remember 1997-1998, when the collapse of the Thai currency (the baht) damaged many economies of southeast Asia and sparked fears of an international financial meltdown. We’re all deeply interconnected, and far too many nations are facing severe problems as a result of collapsed fertility rates.

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