What’s The Bigger Challenge – Baby Boom Or Bust?
See - http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/bigger-challenge-baby-boom-or-bust
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The Philippines stands out in East Asia for its high rates of fertility and poverty. A Reproductive Health Bill would allow public distribution of contraception advice and methods, but Catholic bishops are adamantly opposed. The clerics warn that contraception contributes to population decline and potential economic struggles of a small workforce supporting social protections for the aged. Journalist Philip Bowring calls this an opportunist argument, considering the Philippines already has a high level of poverty compared with Asian neighbors, especially China, Japan and South Korea. China regulates childbirth with a strict one-child policy, but even countries without aggressive birth-control plans have declining fertility rates. Likewise, the wealthiest Filipinos rely on contraception. Governments that provide social protections for young parents – including paid leave, subsidized child care – reduce childbirth costs, allow more women to enter the workforce and contribute to population stability. Population imbalances, including high youth or elder dependency ratios, both add to social costs, though youth poverty poses challenges that can spill across borders. – YaleGlobal.
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