Birth Rate

Birth Rate

Singaporean government policies implimented over 20 years, aimed at increasing the birth rate of the better educated, have failed. The rate is currently 1.37 (Straits Times, 2004). The following hypothesis may shed some light on 'Why they have failed and continue to fail on a global scale.'

Thirty years ago, Professor Abernethy coined her "economic opportunity hypothesis".

It describes how people increase the size of their families when they are convinced that economic opportunities are expanding and rein back on their objectives when they believe resources are shrinking and the difficulty of raising children is increasing.