How to Deal With a Falling Population

Between 1900 and 2000, the world’s population quadrupled, today standing at 6.5 billion people. But in some parts of the world – including the US, Europe, Japan, China – the fertility rate is lower then the replacement rate, causing experts to worry about a declining population. Institutions in developed nations, designed for growth, will be affected: For example, worker-retiree rations will be skewed, and armies like the one in Russia must adjust for lower numbers of recruits. Governments can take steps to ease the transition to a lower population by eliminating mandatory retirement ages; replacing rigid payment policies with flexible ones; updating immigration laws; and helping mothers remain in the workforce, through improved childcare and parental-leave programs. A decline in populations is a problem only for the governments that dawdle in adapting. – YaleGlobal