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Where did the kids go?

Where did the kids go?. A look at why Australia, along with most other developed countries, has a declining population ahead. Recently, Australia examined peoples’ attitudes to having children.

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Where did the kids go?

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  1. Where did the kids go? A look at why Australia, along with most other developed countries, has a declining population ahead.

  2. Recently, Australia examined peoples’ attitudes to having children • The main finding: “Young Australian adults want to have children, but job and relationship insecurities are holding them back.” • Only 8% say that they do not want children, which is far fewer than most people assumed. I can't talk about kids right now.

  3. The Demographics as of Now • “The Nation’s fertility rate is well below a level that would maintain the population, which means that Australia will face not only an ageing population, but a falling one unless more babies are born.” • “The Nation’s low fertility rate of 1.75 babies per woman cannot be blamed on a ‘lack of wanting children.’”

  4. The “Ideal Conditions” • “The most common pre-conditions people nominate for having children are a secure, stable and adequate partner, and a secure stable and adequate income stream.” • Despite 14 years of economic growth, people in their 20s are still finding “such conditions elusive resulting in delayed childbearing and small families than desired.” Of course, it may not work out exactly the way you had hoped.

  5. The Perceived Problems Hey, stop this. I want to be an only child, and then I get to inherit EVERYTHING • There is a climate of frequent divorce, and that causes people to question the conventional stability of marriage. Indeed, the odds are that you will be divorced. • The next most important factor is that of the male partner’s job security. • For childless people over 30, the main reason for not having children was the lack of a partner.

  6. The “Me” Generation? • A lot has been made of selfishness in trying to explain the sudden drop in the number of children. • However, the Australian study (pub 2005) states: “Only a quarter of those questioned mentioned concerns about having time for leisure or social activities.” (Actually, one quarter is a significant proportion.) I have no time to look after children.

  7. Policy Implications? • If, and it is an “if,” you think this situation is undesirable, then think about the following: • Why do you think it is undesirable? Don’t we hear people all the time talking about overpopulation? • If you do want to change this, what does this report imply will produce results? maybe there are some new ways of increasing the number of children?

  8. Policy must think in terms of INCENTIVES

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