South Korea’s Baby Bust
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/south-korea-can-avoid-demographic-collapse-with-bold-structural-reform-by-lee-jong-wha-2025-09
South Korea’s fertility crisis reflects not only economic constraints, but also a widening gap between social norms and women’s needs and aspirations. Only with bold, coordinated reforms that close this gap can the country raise fertility to a level that, though still below replacement, would avert demographic collapse.
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/south-korea-can-avoid-demographic-collapse-with-bold-structural-reform-by-lee-jong-wha-2025-09
South Korea’s fertility crisis reflects not only economic constraints, but also a widening gap between social norms and women’s needs and aspirations. Only with bold, coordinated reforms that close this gap can the country raise fertility to a level that, though still below replacement, would avert demographic collapse.
Even a $14,000 Government Handout Can’t Get South Korea’s Singles to Marry
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/singles-dating-marriage-fertility-birthrate-south-korea-bdb40c7b
State-sponsored dating has become a phenomenon in a country with rock-bottom fertility rates; ‘I don’t want my parents to find out’.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/singles-dating-marriage-fertility-birthrate-south-korea-bdb40c7b
State-sponsored dating has become a phenomenon in a country with rock-bottom fertility rates; ‘I don’t want my parents to find out’.
Chile’s plummeting births take fertility rate below Japan’s
https://www.ft.com/content/315f7420-104a-40f5-ad2e-12520cb095ad
Social mobility and high living costs contribute to 42 per cent drop in rate over past decade.
https://www.ft.com/content/315f7420-104a-40f5-ad2e-12520cb095ad
Social mobility and high living costs contribute to 42 per cent drop in rate over past decade.
Birth rates are crashing around the world. Should we be worried?
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/03/03/the-population-implosion
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/03/03/the-population-implosion
Why solving the baby bust is so difficult
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/06/10/baby-bust-policy-failure-europe/
No motherhood medal or baby bonus will fix what economic modernization (and closed borders) broke.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/06/10/baby-bust-policy-failure-europe/
No motherhood medal or baby bonus will fix what economic modernization (and closed borders) broke.
Babies and the Macroeconomy by Claudia Goldin
Related:
https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/jep.36.1.151
Why Fertility Has Declined Everywhere by Claudia Goldin
https://www.project-syndicate.org/magazine/why-fertility-has-declined-everywhere-by-claudia-goldin-2026-03
Over the past half-century or so, birth rates have declined in virtually every country, suggesting that there is a common factor at work. As women have gained more agency, a mismatch has emerged between what they need to enjoy the fruits of their autonomy and the credible commitments men can make.
Over the past half-century or so, birth rates have declined in virtually every country, suggesting that there is a common factor at work. As women have gained more agency, a mismatch has emerged between what they need to enjoy the fruits of their autonomy and the credible commitments men can make.
https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/jep.36.1.151