[Answered] Although the benefits of declining fertility are many, there are consequences as well. Elaborate
Red Book
Red Book

Introduction: Contextual introduction.
Body: Explain some benefits of declining fertility. Also write its consequences.
Conclusion: Write a way forward.

According to the World Population Prospects 2022, the average global fertility has been consistently declining over the past 70 years. Most advanced economies have their fertility rate below the replacement rate of 2.1, with South Korea reporting the lowest at 1.05 children per woman.

Benefits of declining fertility:

  • Higher wages: With a shortage of workers, they will be in a position to bargain for higher wages and enjoy higher living standards. This could help reduce the relative decline many workers have faced in recent decades.
  • Less pressure on the environment: Global warming, desertification, loss of farmland, pollution and use of non-renewable materials – all these environmental problems will be lessened by a fall in the global population.
  • Diminishes risk of famine and drought: there will be less pressure on limited farmland and water supplies will face less competition.
  • Immigrants welcomed: if populations fall so much there is a shortage of workers, attitudes to immigration may change and there even may be competition to attract migrants rather than resistance.
  • Greater choice and freedoms for women: more freedom to pursue economic autonomy, gain education and pursue a career. It also increases the ability for children to gain a good education.

Consequences:

  • Increased share of retired people: it will create a rising share of people over 65, and an inverted population pyramid. This has profound implications for health care, government spending and tax revenues.
  • Pressure on government spending: With an ageing population, the government will need to spend more on pensions and health There will be fewer young people to pay income tax. It may require higher taxes on a shrinking workforce.
  • Less innovation: Young people are more likely to be entrepreneurs, innovators and take risks to develop new technologies and business. With less young people, the potential ‘brain pool’ will be less.
  • It leads to concerns about labour shortages and the effects on a country’s economic and social stability.g. Japan is facing a shrinking labour force and challenges in caring for a growing cohort of elders.

Even though the effects of the demographic transition will not be felt tomorrow, India must get the ball rolling early, as the shifting in the socio-cultural landscape towards those of advanced age will take time.

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