What does the birth rate say about the US economy?

[ETcallhome]

Actually there's a body of research that abortion decreased crime (see http://freakonomics.com/2005/05/15/abortion-and-crime-who-should-you-believe/ for some links and arguments on both sides). Would be interested to see the body of work that makes you think it hurt the economy, or is that just your personal opinion based on a strong hunch? There is a direct inverse correlation between wealth of a country and birth rate across all of the 195 countries in the world that pretty much makes an argument for increased birthrates as a driver of economic growth a little silly.

I'd like to see the head scratching if the Koch brothers started donating large sums of money to Planned Parenthood claiming unwanted children are a drag on the economy.

 

[Handle123]

Actually there's a body of research that abortion decreased crime (see http://freakonomics.com/2005/05/15/abortion-and-crime-who-should-you-believe/ for some links and arguments on both sides). Would be interested to see the body of work that makes you think it hurt the economy, or is that just your personal opinion based on a strong hunch? There is a direct inverse correlation between wealth of a country and birth rate across all of the 195 countries in the world that pretty much makes an argument for increased birthrates as a driver of economic growth a little silly. That's not to say falling birth rates aren't a problem across the developed world. But its a problem that's easily solved by increasing immigration from the developing world into the countries with low birth rates.

It is estimated that 50 million babies were aborted. Doesn't take a genius to figure out all the wrongs of abortions. Based on what this country lost in Billions of dollars and those who might have been born geniuses.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/07/16/the-economic-effect-of-abortion-billions-and-billions-lost/

There is going to be crime no matter what, did you research what percentage of USA prisons are filled with illegals? Do you know the bottom line of how many BILLIONS of dollars it costs USA to have illegals in this country, educating their children, health, housing, food, education?

Oh, can you read? The Title of this Post was "US Economy" and not 195 other countries, some of which have not invented the wheel or other to grow rice where there is not ground water.

 

[BONECRUSHER]

I DON'T understand this generation AT ALL. Back in my day it was sex, drugs and Rock and Roll. Rev. Falwell would be spinning in his grave if he knew all it would take for kids to stop fornicating was to invent a cell phone and put a couple of games on it like Angry Birds and Candy Crush. For the first time in history the majority of Americans aren't having sex even once a month, births to teenagers are the lowest since they started recording it in 1940. So put down your phone and shower and find a companion and Rock n Roll, preferably using a condom and a signed consensual sex agreement in triplicate, better safe than sorry.

I think it's also attributed to neurology. Sex and drugs release a lot of the pleasure chemical DOPAMINE in the brain. Studies show that video games and electronic devices do a good job of releasing DOPAMINE as well. In fact, video games have proven to cause seizures...too much stimulation in the brain from DOPAMINE and NOREPINEPHRINE. People with ADHD get their fix from video games...for that desired DOPAMINE!

 

[Sig]

It is estimated that 50 million babies were aborted. Doesn't take a genius to figure out all the wrongs of abortions. Based on what this country lost in Billions of dollars and those who might have been born geniuses.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/07/16/the-economic-effect-of-abortion-billions-and-billions-lost/

There is going to be crime no matter what, did you research what percentage of USA prisons are filled with illegals? Do you know the bottom line of how many BILLIONS of dollars it costs USA to have illegals in this country, educating their children, health, housing, food, education?

Oh, can you read? The Title of this Post was "US Economy" and not 195 other countries, some of which have not invented the wheel or other to grow rice where there is not ground water.

Thank you for that well reasoned, intelligent post. You really bring the level of discourse on this forum to a new level.

 

[Handle123]

Thank you for that well reasoned, intelligent post. You really bring the level of discourse on this forum to a new level.

You are very welcome.

 

[J.P.]

The decrease in the birthrate coincided with and was substantially the result of the advent of the birth-control pill for off-label contraceptive use the 1950s and its direct approval for contraception in 1960. This fostered not only the sexual revolution, but a social and economic rebellion of women in education and economics and the transference of reproductive-rights control from men to women. Its impact was unprecedented and enormous: The rate of women going to college and choosing a career rose substantially and, as the OP's chart suggests, pregnancies markedly declined.