Should You Be Concerned About the Country’s ‘Lowest Ever’ Birth Rate?
(Photo: Shutterstock.com)
You might have already heard that the U.S. birth rate for 2011 was the lowest ever recorded in the country’s history. While some are saying this is cause for concern, others would disagree.
(Image: Pew Research Center)
Although the final data from 2011 is not yet available, the Pew Research Center, which published the statistics last week, using preliminary data from the National Center for Health Statistics found the overall birth rate in 2011 was 63.2 per 1,000 women of childbearing age, which is considered age 15 through 44.
The Pew Research Center said that although it didn’t investigate why fewer women were having children, its analysis showed “fertility decline is closely linked to economic distress.”
Rick Newman wrote in a blog post for U.S. World News and Report that a continuing trend of low birth rates could result in ”lower living standards for most Americans in the future.” He argues with America’s “dynamic economy” has the ability to create wealth and has enough resources to provide for a growing population, which can make it successful.
“Everybody comes into world with one mouth and two hands,” Newman noted economist Donald Boudreaux with George Mason University saying. “It’s generally true that most people produce more than they consume.”
With people waiting longer to get married and/or to have babies, Newman wrote, it too results in a drop in consumerism, which also puts a damper on the economy.
As it is right now, Newman wrote ”a dearth of babies and a limp economy may be reinforcing each other. A few more babies would be good for business.”
Along a similar line, columnist Ross Douthat wrote in an op-ed titled “More Babies, Please” for the New York Times’ Sunday Review that “[s]table families are crucial to prosperity and mobility [...].” Douthat considers the decline the cultural result of modernity.
Douthat wrote that the current generations prefer the “comforts and pleasures of modernity” but not the sacrifice “that built our civilization in the first place.” The solution to this, Douthat wrote, ultimately comes from a change in individual’s choices, which he notes “is how all social and cultural recoveries are ultimately made.” Douthat also advocates for policies to help as well.
In response to Douthat’s op-ed, Jeff Spross wrote on liberal-leaning blog Thing Progress in a post called “Why You Shouldn’t Believe the Unfounded Concerns Over Falling U.S. Birth Rates” that there are “a whole host of positive” effects from a lowered birth rate. These include “female literacy, increased job opportunities for women, overall national wealth, and women gaining greater control over their own reproduction.”
Spross also wrote that Pew’s measurement of fertility rates per 1,000 women might not be the most accurate of measurements. Spross takes a look at the total fertility rate — the average number of children women have in their entire lifetime — which, according to statistics from the Population Reference Bureau, 1976 was the lowest year for birth rates. After that fertility rates were rising steadily but did drop off during the recent recession, which Spross wrote is “a typical and temporary reaction to hard economic times.”
Noah Millman in The American Conservative weighed in on the issue as well writing that with each advancement of humanity, there was a boom in the population that then “settled down into new, relatively stable forms.” This could be what is happening with the birth rate now. If it is, Millman gently criticized Douthat’s view in the Times that “stability” associated with the terms he uses like “decadence” and “exhaustion.”
What do you think of the reported birth rate decline? Let us know in the comments.
Featured image via Shutterstock.com.
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Comments (77)
tradcatholicgirl
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 7:48amWhere are my posts going?
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sparkyrules
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 7:24amS.E. Cupp…eat your heart out…………………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r56OjGsOyfY
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sparkyrules
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 7:19am4……….3…………2…………..1……………”” bump
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sparkyrules
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 7:17amI love babies.Great pictures Blaze!
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blanco5
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 6:31ammuslims and mexicans are breeding like bunnies so that’t what the world population will be. But in the end, when it comes down to who will ultimately survive—-muslims!!!! Who would want to live in THAT world?
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old white guy
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 6:57amwe are killing millions of babies through abortion that would have been american citizens and importing third world welfare cases. mark steyn wrote a good book on demographics and some projected results. worth reading.
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cliffattheblaze
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:24pmActually, that’s not true. Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZeyYIsGdAA
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SaturdaysWarrior76
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 5:49amI have 5 children and 15 grandchildren! Number 16 is on the way! I feel blessed!
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SaturdaysWarrior76
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 5:49amI have 5 children and 15 grandchildren! Number 16 is on the way! I feel blessed!
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katzkiner
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 5:37amIn 1900, whites made up 1/3 of the world’s population, in 2000 whites are down to 9% of the world’s population, 2% of the world’s population are white females of childbaring age.
Many of those are busy raising black and brown babies. The point? Whites are finished.
To quote Louie Fairycon,”The last generation of white children are being born right now.”
All the Black Muslims were on there feet in jubilation. It is on You Tube.
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DonaldH
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 6:42amPolitical Correctness will be the violent death of your white sons and I would like to thank the white liberals for setting it in motion and curse the coward white conservatives for sitting on their hands afraid to mention what they saw happening..
Welcome to the Utopian NEW WORLD ORDER— where we are all of one race; One religion and of one social and economic class—-
Even most that post on here have the nagging feeling this is in fact playing out and yet they refuse to acknowledge it or even admit it to themselves that is indeed happening.
What is that allows only a few to see what is politically, physically and mathematically playing out on a global scale? UNBELIEVABLE!!
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Chet Hempstead
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 5:11pmLook at the bright side. The number of white people is much higher than in 1900, and their standard of living is much higher, while the standard of living of peoples whose populations have grown at a much higher rate has barely improved at all.
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spikebu
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 5:16amColor me twisted, but I think the only population on the rise right now is Muslim.
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syd chaden
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:21amAccording to several accounts that I have read, the Muslim birthrate is by far the highest birthrate of any of the world’s population groups. The Mullahs have claimed that it is the Muslim birthrate that will enable them to establish Islam as the religion of the world. Some published projections show that several European countries will have Muslim majorities within 20 to 30 years. However, while the projections measured the birthrates of Muslims, they did not take into account the rate at which Muslims kill Muslims. Perhaps the US will escape the Muslim tide by virtue of the birthrate of its illegal immigrants, which is said to rival that of the Muslims.
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Dushman Kush
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 2:34amFortunately, the Lutheran refugee group is supplying hundreds of thousands of Somalians and Congolese to our country. Long Live the Communist International !!!
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Diane TX
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 2:39amIn BC, (before Christ), Egypt was a land where the Pharaohs self-declared their selves to be gods. The Egyptians also used captured Jews as slaves to build the Pyramids. Jesus Christ is the most important person that has ever walked on Earth. Time is divided by his birth. BC – before Christ, and AD – Anno Domini, (in the year of our Lord).
Depending on what calendar you use, it has been 2,012 years since Jesus Christ was born. Some 630 years after the birth of Jesus Christ, some crazy Arab hears voices in his head, and establishes “Islam”. People listened to him because his father was a very wealthy merchant. Muhammad died 2 years after, in 632.
Here in the USA, one has a Constitutional right to embrace any religion they choose to. If Satan is your choice, so be it.
It’s awful what is happening in today’s Egypt. Half of the Country is pro-Islam, and the other half is anti-Islam.
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DennisMetz
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:58amthere are a lot fewer whites being born but millions of hispanics and blacks blacks will continue to overpopulate to the end so they can tgake over and kill the devil honkies. there will always be more black welfare hoes
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thekuligs
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:27amI think this is slightly humerous. I have 5 kids. I am 29 (I was married and in my 20′s before any kids came along and there is a set of twins in there) my husband is 31. All of our conservative friends have larger families or are planning them.
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Restored One
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:53amYou go girl! Hope that the 31 year old husband gets a break every now and then w/o you around. Let the man sleep! TOTALLY KIDDING WITH YOU!! If you can afford and love them, keep em comin. But…………if not, I wish you the best, a long happy (sterile ) life.
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THXll38
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:14amWhy in the hell would anyone have 5 kids on purpose? I have one, and that is enough LOL.
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macpappy
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:53amA family like yours is our Republics best hope. Large conservative families.
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Azzman
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 3:42amMe too. My youngest is four and my oldest is knocking on high schools door. Blond **** and blue eyed kids, God fearing and gun loving. Blaze readers, the world does keep on turning. God bless.
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USA-Ron
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:16amNo, don’t care
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cliffattheblaze
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:22pmYou’ll care when you try and collect some retirement. Who’s going to support you?
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macpappy
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:13amWell, it’s all a matter of just what you are willing to do in front of a camera, right?
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barber2
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:07amStrw: Please don’t feed junior high Troll Needy Tim. He is desperate for attention and to annoy. .
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Diane TX
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:58pmHow did the BLAZE® get away with using a photo with all White babies? Shouldn’t there be 1 White, 1 Black, 1 Latino, 1 Asian and 1 transgendered baby in the photo? (Just kidding)
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macpappy
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:11amThats how the Right lies to you by ommiting the truth. And we only thought the left did that.
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Restored One
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:27amDiane, the would be PC.
McHappy, that is the group that is the target. They don’t want more white babies born. The 18-29 year olds are lost and they know it. Sandra Fluke is a perfect example. I did not see any black woman or hispanic woman demanding abortions or birth control. They are targeting the white young women.
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Obamujahadeen
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:06amThat was funny and so true… around my house me and my buddies and family and so on laugh at the PC social engineering on the commercials today, and I even write emails telling them “I’m never buying anything from you people for not having enough whiteys in the commercials”….
The breakdown is 80% white in this country and now our entertainment and the commercials and ads are 10% white 90% rainbow coalition minority. Had enough yet? They’ve cowed white America into the corner like banished children but not this guy.
However, talk enough out here in forums and what not and you get banned from conservative sites too for speaking non PC truths, as they’re as PC as anyone. And that’s because It’s all about one thing now more than ever sadly now as the non white world is finally making money and lifting out of the third world…. the root of all evil they said….
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and there just isn’t enough to go around its starting to appear.
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macpappy
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:38amRestored
Wrong again buddy.
Abortions in 2007 Rate per 1000
Whites – 18.7
Blacks – 62.4
Other – 23.9
My info link: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0101.xls
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Virginia Rebel
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:36pmI think it is a sign that people (especially a large number of men) just aren’t growing up these days. While they may get an education or perhaps even land a decent job somehow, the 20 somethings and even 30 somethings are content to stay with a lifestyle that is more about pleasuring themselves and having fun with non-stop recreation. Becoming parents might happen accidentally to some, but the drive to get married, start a family, and be responsible hard-working adults seems to be dwindling. Too many fun distractions like electronics, video games, and partying cause these young men to defer, many forever, more adult pursuits.
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SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:51pmMr Hanky’s are easily aborted at home on the porcelain throne.
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Pontiaku
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:55pmIt is a finite world we live in. It is far better for the population to contract willingly than to fight for increasingly difficult to obtain resources. The only problem is both republicans and democrats expect to continue an infinite and unsustainable system of growth in one form or another…
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THXll38
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:18amSmart women finally realized that there is more to life than cooking, cleaning, and child birth. Many are waiting longer, getting careers, and marrying late. I was 33 when I got married and my wife gave birth when she was 37. We are indeed done. My wife is a chemical engineer and I am an IT director. According to Obama, we are rich evil people. Funny though, we do not feel rich LOL.
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macpappy
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:48amTHXll38
Have you ever seen a movie titled “Idiocracy”? If not please look it up and watch it. You won’t be sorry. After reading your post that movie came into my mind. If you have seen it you know why.
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The_Bronze
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:28amWow, since we’re playing the game of absolutes…what’s wrong with not wanting to get nagged to death before being taken for half in divorce court?
See how stupid statements like this feel? Men AND women are both responsible for the changing dynamic.
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Atrum Angelis
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:59amI’m just curious: to be a hard-working, responsible adult, one must get married and start a family? Not just get a job and be self-sufficient?
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BamaBryan
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:23pmObamanation Eugenics Phase One initeated, handicap, and elderly are next.
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strawberry411a
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:07pmMan. I AM shocked.
dealer@678
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:49pmApparently Illegal Mexican women did’nt get the memo. Diaper sales in Texas are at an all time high
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ak47po
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:45pmThis is why abortion is so important to kook left.
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Jennifer_D
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:29pm@AK47PO
I agree. Their mentality is that babies are problems; parasitic drains on their mothers and the earth. They take up way too much space with their little carbon footprints!
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Restored One
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:49pmAK- To paraphrase our POTUS, I dont want my daughters punished with a baby! (I don’t know how to type in the ebonic accent, but you can hear it.)
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The Third Archon
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:41pm“SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COUNTRY’S ‘LOWEST EVER’ BIRTH RATE?”
No, not on its own–population growth is a function of the aggregation of birth rate AND immigration rate.
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Azzman
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 3:44am^ Tool.
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The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:46pmLegal immigration rate? Just a detail I’d like to see rectified.
Not much to ask.
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strawberry411a
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:30pmConsidering the rapid increase in the muslim birthrate and the fact that they admit that procreating more good muslims is the plan to take over this country…HELL YES!!!!!!!!!
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pamela kay
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:58amYou have to also look at the birth rates in both the hispanic and black communities. Last I read they were also increasing. It is a concern. The intention is to eliminate the white race altogether.
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The_Bronze
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:33amOne need look no further than La Raza’s plan to take back what the white man “stole” from Mexico through reproduction. Even Harvard University addressed the reconquista back in 2004.
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ginger100
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:27pmFrom 7 billion down to 500 million is long ways, need to speed it up a little more to accomplish the NWOs goals
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macpappy
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:22pmWell, it looks like Planned Parenthood has acomplished it’s mission. What with all the black and hispainic babies that they kill every year, they have brought the birth rate down.
It’s all cool though……………as long as they keep the PP offices and abortion clinics in the hood.
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TORCH9
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:34pmTruth in the statement my friend…..
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SUNTZU
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 10:39pmI thought they were making up for the low
birth rate with open borders
PP only murders about 350 to 400,000 each year but according to the gov.
reports 600,000 to 1,000,000 come across the border.
Birth rate may be down but where is the shortage of people.
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Restored One
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 11:57pm@Machappy, I think that your math is wrong. Look at the culture, arent these the kids that the Govt is raising? The more they have the more money the Moms get. I am in no way supporting PP, but the target for PP is the white working woman, not the black and hispanics. The Govt wants to support the minority, the more of them on the dole, the less of us to fight.
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macpappy
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:18amRestored One
Hell, all the white working women I know have kids….thats why they are working. I do agree that the target is poor white women as well as minorities, but for a different reason than talked about.
The left has pushed Eugenics since the 1920 or so, at one time the state of Calf. was so good at sterilizing shiftless, and lazy black men that the Nazis commissioned a report from them to use on Jews. It is common history.
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Restored One
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:43am@Mac, your response does not support your comment. The hispanic and black women are not using PP. I do not support PP at all, but if the past eugencis was the agenda in this day and age, the target audience is a much different group. The target group has been reversed. The white culture is what is being reduced. See my other comments throughout this blog.
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macpappy
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:43amRestored
I have seen your comments thourghout the blog, and you are consistently wrong;
See the stats for yourself.
Abortions per 1000
Whites: 18.7
Blacks: 62.4
Other: 23.9
Research info: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0101.xls
It is OK to do a little research before posting a bunch of misinformation.
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Conkuur
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 6:27am@Macpappy Sure the abortions stats are right you provide. BUT you are missing a lot of factors like the ratio to Blacks, Hispanics,Caucasians, who become pregnant in the first place and at what rate per race.
If whites don’t get impregnated as often as say blacks or Hispanics the numbers really don’t show much.I have seen many women who use abortion as birth control as sad as that sounds. Not to mention not all women go to PP for their abortions.
So you can’t really judge population of any ethnicity by abortion stats alone.So I would say to you Macpappy your research is far from finished enough to prove any kind of valid point let alone prove someone else wrong.
Throwing up abortion stats prove nothing more than blacks have far more abortions but that doesn’t mean they can’t be procreating at a higher % than the others also.
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