Future of Low Birth-Rate Populations

Everywhere in the world populations of largely European origin are currently experiencing not only their lowest-ever fertility levels, but what seem likely to be their longest ever period of fertility at below-replacement levels. Although it is widely assumed that the fertility of these countries will return to replacement levels within 30 to 35 years, there is at present no empirical evidence that this will happen. The inevitable demographic results of this fertility pattern are an older age structure and a decline in numbers. Many see this as leading to labour shortages and wage inflation; even to weakened national defense and the disappearance of European peoples and cultures.Day, Lincoln H. is the author of 'Future of Low Birth-Rate Populations ' with ISBN 9780415127042 and ISBN 0415127041.