Birthrate decreasing in Europe and North America... a problem that concerns YOU?  

I think it's fine cuz the birthrate in other countries are increasing. I'm sure every woman wants to wrok but i think it's not the main reason why they don't have kids.

In some parts here in Asia, the problem of increasing birthrate is the lack of family planning or ignorance. I think it's not a good thing especially in third world countries wherein financial crisis is always a problem. Although it's not applicable for everybody living in such countries, I could generalize that it's the people's mentality (especially women) that affects birthrates.

Hi stine1, the advertisement here in my country says that Canada is in need of people to fill in the vast empty land that is cold and deserted. Many qualified Filipino families had already migrated in the past years. One report says that Europeans, especially Germans, would rather intermingle with Americans. That is why they don't produce as much children anymore. For the over population in Asia and Africa, lack of preoccupation and poverty could account for it. The people don't have hobbies or jobs, so they make children instead.

Hi stine in Asia and Africa the family system is prevailing more. Many rules in the society for the people to live in a society manner. But it is lost in America and Europe countries. Everyone right there want to live an independent life and not want to involve in family and kids and the responsibility. It is the reason for such situation. Due to this current mind setup the people there are now have a diminished patience and acceptance of others.

Hi stine, I think it is the high cost of living! Because the cost of living is so high, people tend to think twice before having a child. Moreover, there are many ways to keep people entertained, and people are more aware of family planning methods. Labor is expensive, and women have to work. All thse factors may be the reason women think they have to earn, and they cant really afford nannies. So it is better to use family planning methods, and bring down the number of mouths to feed. Anything remaining would add to retirement kitty, or help them take a vacation each year. Out here, in my country, not many from lower middle class and below know about family planning. Secondly, government policies are such that lower class people get homes without doing much. So they dont have to struggle as much. Since they are not tired enough, and they dont have enough entertainment, they possibly resort to the only form of entertainment they can get at home, which unfortunately adds to the family. But that is not bad at all in their eyes. If it is a girl, she is sent to work by the time she turns 10, and if it is a boy, he is sent to mechanic workshop to learn the skills. Some money keeps trickling in. :)

In Israel, we don't have this problem at all. I work as a school nurse in the re ligious education in Jerusalem. It is not rare to see Chassidic families with 18 children. And it has a connection with Germany. When I ask why they have so many children, the common answer is that they have parents who were killed in the extermination camps of the Nazis, and they give to their children the names of their parents who were exterminated.
Also if your children go to the Israeli army, if one of them doesn't come back, then other children don't have to go to the army. Most of the religious families in Israel have 5,6 or 7 children. There is no problem of demography.
Me and my wife took 10 years to make 5 children, she worked in the same time, and she decided to go back to her teaching career. In comparison, my brothers in Europe have only 2 children.
Here in Israel, Muslims make less children than the Jews, because the Muslim women can have a career. I think the main problem is inside Europe, if the Muslims, the Turks, make more children, do you think Germany will become an Islamic Republic?

hell stine1!

It could really be a good thing or a bad thing. As for me I think that your plans is better. It's better than getting pregnant having children and having no money to buy for there needs. I wish that our country is like that to. Now we are really over populated.

I'm from the USA and what I see is a lot of couples look at the cost of living and then decided when and how many children they are going to have. We still have families that are large. I've had 4 children, raised 3 step children also. Money was tight, but we did it.

I know that a lot of people do not know where our country is going and are worried about finances so children will wait or not be born because economically this country is a mess and there just aren't job out there.

A friend of mine has been out of work for 3 years. They wanted more children, but simply can't afford it because there are a lot of people here that aren't working from lack of jobs available.

I think that the birth rates are dropping in part because of the working woman as you described but also many people want to give their children a very good life and they limit how many children they have. If they have 1 or 2 children they can provide a good life whereas if they had 6 they couldn't.

Gone are the days where families had 5 and 6 children since it's not economicaly possible in many cases and children are no longer expected to till the fields or work in the family business as in the older days.

Our planet is extremely over populated with humans and I think that the change to having fewer children is a very good thing. Don't get me wrong, I ADORE children but they should be planned for and given the best life possible.

I also love to combine being a businesswoman with being a nuturing Mom. The balance of family and work is possible but challenging and very rewarding! Take care!!

I think the lower birthrate is caused by the following: a) growing condom industry b) growing homosexual community c) recession

In my part of the world, the Philippines we have the opposite problem. There are too many babies born. The people aren't family planning and the worst part its the Church to blame for it. The Church promotes kids because they do make money from birth-death of a person.

I honestly think its better to have too little than too much. Job opportunities are more there. :)