There Aren't Enough Russians, Are there, Mr. Putin? Demographic Winter Report #8

 

 

Issue #8  June 14, 2024  

 

Reporting on how rapidly falling fertility affects nations and humanity

 

1. The Cultural Roots of Our Demographic Ennui – Ethics and Public Policy Center https://eppc.org/publication/the-cultural-roots-of-our-demographic-ennui/

 

Author Patrick C. Brown says falling fertility is driven by affluence and consumerism. Many in developed nations have traded the eternal for the ephemeral – aka, the good life. People are substituting possessions for progeny.

 

2. Putin’s Existential Problem: Not Enough Russians – The Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/putin-russia-population-birthrate-war-904d74a7

 

Rusia’s demographic decline, which started at the end of the Cold War, is accelerating due to the war in Ukraine, with at least 150,000 Russians dead. In the Russian Federation, only about 1.26 million babies were born last year, the lowest number in two decades. Putin sees the problem, but none of his solutions – mostly economic incentives – are working.

 

Note: You must be a subscriber to WSJ to access this story.

 

3. There is hope for boosting fertility rates – even in desperately low South Korea – Mercator https://www.mercatornet.com/there_is_hope_for_boosting_fertility_rates_even_in_desperately_low_south_korea

 

S. Korea has the world’s worst fertility rate, 0.72. (Japan’s is 1.26), its relatively high Christian population notwithstanding. Lee Byeong-cheon, pastor of  The Keunteo Church, has become a missionary for fertility. His 303 Project encourages South Koreans to marry before 30 and have at least 3 children. Members of his  church had an average of 2.4 children last year.

 

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