"A falling fertility rate is always beneficial to a country." Discuss this statement. (15 marks)

Answer: The average fertility rate of a country is the number of babies born per 1000 women of childbearing age (15-49). Overall LICs have higher fertility rates HICs. Therefore a falling fertility rate is an important development indicator. On one hand a falling fertility rate is beneficial to a country as there are more resources available per head resulting in increased child and adult literacy rates and rates of higher education. Classes will be smaller and will cost less. Higher levels of medical care will also be available per person. It indicates greater gender equality and female empowerment as women are often able to decide to have fewer children and are educated in family planning and contraception which also helps reduce STIs. Greater employment of women for longer periods results in greater economic and social progress, increasing development. A falling fertility rate prevents famines such as in China where the One Child Policy prevented overpopulation catastrophes as advertised by Malthusians such as the Club of Rome. Naturally falling fertility rates also mean that Governments do not need to implement unpopular anti natal policies, retaining favour. Unemployment will be less as there are fewer surplus workers creating greater economic efficiency. Infrastructure is more likely to cope with fewer numbers. Falling fertility is also beneficial to the environment as less waste is produced; energy consumed; and fewer cars on the road meaning fewer emissions. Alternatively, a falling fertility rate can have negative impacts on countries, particularly those with ageing populations. In LICs, a falling fertility rate is a bad sign as often they are still largely agriculturally based societies which use children as additional labour, particularly in harvest time. This can result in food shortages. In HICs, an increased dependency ratio creates many problems such as an increase in immigration, often unpopular, creating social discord, to support the ageing population. In societies such as Japan where immigration is restricted in order to preserve culture, the retirement age is increased. Often health prevents work and access to pensions is restricted. The Governments in France and Singapore have implemented expensive pro-natalist policies, which often do not work, to increase the fertility rate above the death rate. Falling fertility rates also result in a change of culture and tradition resulting in a more homogenised world – often viewed negatively. Anti-Malthusians, such as Julian Smith, argue that wicked problems are less likely to be solved due to fewer people and ‘less brain’ to tackle the problem. Overall, a falling fertility rate can be beneficial to a country but it is not ALWAYS beneficial. Additionally fertility rates cannot fall too low otherwise economic decline will result. This is reflected in the history of Singapore’s pro-natal and anti-natal policies. Furthermore infant and child mortality must be taken into consideration as high levels can exacerbate falling fertility.

Each point will be illustrated with examples and statistics in the lesson which would further improve the answer.