1 month ago
Fertility decline linked to gender mismatch
The world's fertility rate is dropping because women are more educated and have better access to contraception, but men aren't helping enough with domestic work.
This means fewer children are being born, which can cause problems for economies and social systems.
In India, this is happening because women are getting more education and marrying later, but they still do most of the housework.
If India doesn't create more jobs and change how domestic work is divided, it might face a future with too few workers and too many elderly people who need support.
Global fertility rates have dropped from 5 children per woman in 1950 to 2.2 today.
About 70% of the world's population lives in countries below the replacement fertility rate of 2.1.
India's total fertility rate is 2.0, with significant regional variations.
Declining fertility rates are linked to women's increased autonomy and the mismatch between their expectations and men's behavior regarding domestic responsibilities.
India faces challenges in converting its working-age population into productive employment, particularly for women.
- Who
- Global population, particularly women and policymakers
- What
- Declining fertility rates due to a mismatch between women's expectations and men's behavior regarding domestic responsibilities
- Where
- Globally, with a focus on India and other countries like Japan, South Korea, and China
- When
- Present and projected future trends
- Why
- Women's increased autonomy and access to education and contraception, coupled with unchanged domestic responsibilities, lead to delayed or foregone childbearing
Economic Growth Advocates
Social Reform Advocates
Economic Growth vs. Social Reform
Economic Growth Advocates
Prioritize economic growth to create jobs and raise incomes, which can help mitigate the effects of declining fertility rates.
Social Reform Advocates
Address the gender mismatch in domestic responsibilities and promote women's empowerment to achieve sustainable fertility rates and economic growth.
Key facts
- Global Fertility Rate
- 2.2 children per woman
- India's Total Fertility Rate
- 2.0
- Countries Below Replacement Threshold
- 70% of the world's population
- Projected Countries Below Replacement by 2050
- 75%
- Women's Labour Force Participation in India
- Trails men's by a wide margin
- Percentage of Women Citing Domestic Responsibilities as Reason for Not Working
- 43%
- Projected Old-Age Dependency Ratio in India by 2050
- 30 dependents per 100 workers
- Percentage of Workers with Pension Cover in India
- 12.5%
Quotes
Claudia Goldin
Harvard economist and Nobel laureate
“"The recent research of the Harvard economist, Claudia Goldin, traces the initial drops in the United States of America and in Europe to newly-autonomous women and a mismatch between their expectations of family life and what men were willing to give up"”
telegraphindia.com
“"Mandays not mandatory not mandatory not mandatory mandatory mandatory"”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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