Institutional change to compensate for low birth rates: The Chinese situation,and comparison with other countries

Abstract

Despite fears of global overpopulation, population declines are becoming a significant demographic problem in developed and rapidly developing countries. If we have no effective measures to solve the problem, the world’s population will continue to age, and some small ethnic groups will face a risk of extinction. The human race’s social and genetic diversity therefore face significant challenges. The failure to raise birth rates in developed regions suggests that preventing adverse consequences from the population decline will not depend on our good intentions or on new technology, but rather on recognition of the problems resulting from an evolved institution based on low birth rates. Changing this institution will require us to enhance the social status of women, but will also require practical recognition of their unique needs in the context of childbearing and raising children. However, this innovation represents a huge challenge to overcome because of human resistance to change of existing institutions.