Americans are having fewer babies. As the country's birth rate plummets, the economy of the United States also suffers.
2008 Recession Still Affects Birth Rate
Demographic Intelligence, a firm that provides U.S. birth and marriage forecasts, found that the birth rate rose to 4 million in 2015, a number slightly higher than the previously reported 3.99 million. That birth rate, however, isn't enough to recover from the low rates recorded after the 2008 recession, the Wall Street Journal reported.
How Low Birth Rates Affect The US Economy
Social and economic factors affect the decreasing birth rate in the nation. According to the Wall Street Journal, more millennial women do not prioritize having children and getting married. Because of the less priority towards childbearing and marriage, many women are surpassing men when it comes to earning college degrees and pursuing careers.
Young people's less religious natures affect the country's birth rate as well. Latino immigrants also play a part; the number of Latin Americans heading to the U.S. to seek greener pastures has slowed. Latino immigrants are one of the contributors to the country's birth rate.
The smaller amount of babies in the nation affects hospitals and businesses, the news outlet further reported. Hospitals do not have infants to tend to when there are fewer babies coming in. Businesses that cater to pregnancy and babies' needs also suffer due to low income.
Other Countries' Remedy For Low Birth Rate
In 2015, China's government announced that it will end its one-child policy to revive the country's quickly aging workforce, Time reported. China's one-child policy had been in effect for decades to curb the country's rapid population growth.
Singapore, Japan, Germany and Russia are also doing measures to encourage parents to have babies. Majority of these initiatives have earned the full support of the countries' governments.
Teen Birth Rate Drops
Earlier this month, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that birth rates among teenagers in the U.S. have dropped. The number has plummeted to 40 percent since 2006, with a 44 percent drop among black teens and a 51 percent decline among Hispanic teens, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Low teen birth rates mean there's less unemployment, low education and low-income levels. Pregnant teenagers are also susceptible to domestic violence and substance abuse.
Getting pregnant at a young age is dangerous to both the mother and the baby. Pregnant teens have higher chances of having anemia and poor nutrition, as well as high blood pressure and premature labor and delivery. Those factors all contribute to low birth weight and health complications of the infants.
