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Declining Birth Rate Cause For Concern
Published: Thursday | July 11, 20135 Comments
Wayne Campbell, Contributor
OVER THE years, there has been documented proof linking the relationship between economic recession and a declining birth rate. As the Jamaican economy continues to contract, we have been witnessing a decrease in birth rates. In 2011, Jamaica had a birth rate of 19.2 births per 1,000. However, a year later in 2012, the birth rate declined to 18.89 births per 1,000. It is very obvious that the society's recovery and stability hinges not solely on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal that was signed recently by the Government and this international lending agency, but more so on a healthy and increasing birth rate.
Jamaica is not alone in terms of having a declining birth rate. In fact, the figures are a little better in Jamaica since, on average, the birth rate is 2.3 children per woman, compared to fewer than two children per woman in most of Western Europe.
In many parts of the world, especially in Western Europe, declining birth rates have become a cause for concern. In countries such as Spain and Italy, the birth rate has fallen to 1.2 children per woman. Even in Germany, the economic workhorse of Europe, the birth rate has fallen to 1.3 children per woman, while in Greece, which is also experiencing a severe economic recession, the birth rate is 1.4 children per woman. It is rather elementary to see the co-relationship between both variables. In harsh economic times characterised by wage freeze and high unemployment, it is very likely that more and more people will choose not to have children until their economic condition improves.
JA WILL SUFFER
However, in choosing this logical route, the country will suffer in the long term. As the Jamaican population ages and more people become pensioners, what will happen? We are going to have a decreased work force which will be unable to sustain the economic viability of the country, since fewer taxes will be collected and, therefore, the growing pension population and wider society will suffer.
When the IMF signs deals with governments, they are not too concerned about issues of this nature. The paramount concern of such lending agencies is on the fiscal side of things. Rarely, if at all, do the human aspects come into consideration. The IMF's main concern is that the loan is repaid, regardless of the suffering and sacrifice the people of those countries endure.
The current uncertainly surrounding the jobs of many public-sector workers is not helping in this regard. The almost daily slippage of the Jamaican currency against the United States dollar also does very little to comfort the growing number of Jamaicans who have been called upon once again to sacrifice.
It is very clear, as more and more countries across the globe grapple with recession, that we are likely to see more and more people delaying having children. In 2012, the average global birth rate was 19.15 births per 1,000, compared to 20.09 births per 1,000 in 2007. This itself speaks of the negative impact of economic recession on birth rates.
DAMNING STATISTICS
In light of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal to reduce child mortality, we must take into consideration the following:
Despite population growth, the number of deaths in children under five worldwide declined from 12.4 million in 1990 to 6.9 million in 2011, which translates into about 14,000 fewer children dying each day. Since 2000, measles vaccines have averted over 10 million deaths.
Despite determined global progress in reducing child deaths, an increasing proportion of child deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa, where one in nine children dies before the age of five; and in Southern Asia, where one in 16 dies before age five. As the rate of under-five deaths overall declines, the proportion that occurs during the first month after birth is increasing.
Children born into poverty are almost twice as likely to die before the age of five as those from wealthier families. Children of educated mothers - even mothers with only primary schooling - are more likely to survive than children of mothers with no education.
For governments everywhere, it cannot be that your only concern is to balance the books to appease your creditors. As government, you must address the social concerns of your people in order to have a just and equitable society for all to live and work in.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. Send comments to columns@gleanerjm .com or [email protected].
Published: Thursday | July 11, 20135 Comments
Wayne Campbell, Contributor
OVER THE years, there has been documented proof linking the relationship between economic recession and a declining birth rate. As the Jamaican economy continues to contract, we have been witnessing a decrease in birth rates. In 2011, Jamaica had a birth rate of 19.2 births per 1,000. However, a year later in 2012, the birth rate declined to 18.89 births per 1,000. It is very obvious that the society's recovery and stability hinges not solely on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal that was signed recently by the Government and this international lending agency, but more so on a healthy and increasing birth rate.
Jamaica is not alone in terms of having a declining birth rate. In fact, the figures are a little better in Jamaica since, on average, the birth rate is 2.3 children per woman, compared to fewer than two children per woman in most of Western Europe.
In many parts of the world, especially in Western Europe, declining birth rates have become a cause for concern. In countries such as Spain and Italy, the birth rate has fallen to 1.2 children per woman. Even in Germany, the economic workhorse of Europe, the birth rate has fallen to 1.3 children per woman, while in Greece, which is also experiencing a severe economic recession, the birth rate is 1.4 children per woman. It is rather elementary to see the co-relationship between both variables. In harsh economic times characterised by wage freeze and high unemployment, it is very likely that more and more people will choose not to have children until their economic condition improves.
JA WILL SUFFER
However, in choosing this logical route, the country will suffer in the long term. As the Jamaican population ages and more people become pensioners, what will happen? We are going to have a decreased work force which will be unable to sustain the economic viability of the country, since fewer taxes will be collected and, therefore, the growing pension population and wider society will suffer.
When the IMF signs deals with governments, they are not too concerned about issues of this nature. The paramount concern of such lending agencies is on the fiscal side of things. Rarely, if at all, do the human aspects come into consideration. The IMF's main concern is that the loan is repaid, regardless of the suffering and sacrifice the people of those countries endure.
The current uncertainly surrounding the jobs of many public-sector workers is not helping in this regard. The almost daily slippage of the Jamaican currency against the United States dollar also does very little to comfort the growing number of Jamaicans who have been called upon once again to sacrifice.
It is very clear, as more and more countries across the globe grapple with recession, that we are likely to see more and more people delaying having children. In 2012, the average global birth rate was 19.15 births per 1,000, compared to 20.09 births per 1,000 in 2007. This itself speaks of the negative impact of economic recession on birth rates.
DAMNING STATISTICS
In light of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal to reduce child mortality, we must take into consideration the following:
Despite population growth, the number of deaths in children under five worldwide declined from 12.4 million in 1990 to 6.9 million in 2011, which translates into about 14,000 fewer children dying each day. Since 2000, measles vaccines have averted over 10 million deaths.
Despite determined global progress in reducing child deaths, an increasing proportion of child deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa, where one in nine children dies before the age of five; and in Southern Asia, where one in 16 dies before age five. As the rate of under-five deaths overall declines, the proportion that occurs during the first month after birth is increasing.
Children born into poverty are almost twice as likely to die before the age of five as those from wealthier families. Children of educated mothers - even mothers with only primary schooling - are more likely to survive than children of mothers with no education.
For governments everywhere, it cannot be that your only concern is to balance the books to appease your creditors. As government, you must address the social concerns of your people in order to have a just and equitable society for all to live and work in.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. Send comments to columns@gleanerjm .com or [email protected].
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