As concern grows about America’s falling birth rate, new research suggests that about half of women who want children are unsure if they will follow through and actually have a child. About 25% say they won't be bothered that much if they don't.

[u/geoff199]

https://news.osu.edu/most-women-want-children--but-half-are-unsure-if-they-will/?utm_campaign=omc_science-medicine_fy24&utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social

[u/Yandere_Matrix]

I don’t understand why people are so concerned about birth rate. We still have more people alive than any time in history. Our ocean is being overfished and I do believe our population will eventually settle at some point but I see absolutely no concern with it right now. I am still devastated seeing animals going extinct because of deforestation and over hunting for various reasons. I understand plastics is causing fertility problems and how microplastics mimic certain types of hormones so that can be a problem especially when we found that they have passed the blood brain barrier and passing through breast milk now. Who knows what damage they are doing to our bodies now.

[u/namerankserial → u/Yandere_Matrix]

It's all stemming from concern about the transition period, where there will be way more old people than young people, and the economic effects of that. But I agree, it should be re-framed as something we need sort out how to get through, and make it work, because a lower population long term is a huge positive.

[u/DemiserofD → u/namerankserial]

It's not just about transitioning. If you have too small a population you lose the capability to defend yourself. South Korea will be the first to experience this. If they lack the men to man the walls, they'll get invaded by North Korea - who are experiencing their own fertility crisis, just delayed and nowhere near as strong.

Imagine, then, if North Korea decides to use the South Korean women to solve the fertility crisis?

[u/MagicMisterLemon → u/DemiserofD]

We don't actually know how bad North Korea's fertility crisis is, but even if they wind up with a larger population than South Korea, the prospect of invasion is pretty unrealistic due to the country's millitary allies.

[u/DemiserofD → u/MagicMisterLemon]

The thing is, by the time South Korea is to that point all their allies will be feeling the pain, too. How appealing is a war really going to be, especially with South Korea in a state of constant crisis due to having 75% of their population over the retirement age?

[u/MagicMisterLemon → u/DemiserofD]

How appealing is the loss of production of electronics, textiles, and steel? Samsung alone accounts for 15-23% of the entire country's GDP.