More development can boost fertility: Study
POSTED August 6, 2009 - 16:51 | POSTED BY Pankhuri Kapoor
Last edited by Sham Kamboj on August 12, 2009 - 12:54
The team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the Università Bocconi, Milan, conducted a thorough study of 24 countries over a period of 30 years. They analyzed the fertility rates and the human development index of these countries.
Says Hans Peter Kohler, who initiated the study, “Although development continues to promote fertility decline at low and medium human development index levels, our analyses show that at advanced human development index levels, further development can reverse the declining trend in fertility.”
Even the Census Bureau of U.S. has estimated a double increase in birth rates by 2040.
A new hope against low infertility
"Whereas a decade ago Europe, North America and Japan were assumed to face very rapid population aging and in many cases significant population declines, our findings provide a different outlook for the 21st century," said the researchers.
According to the study, policies for increasing well being and development of citizens can help fight the problem of low fertility among wealthy nations.
The present study has also opened doors for more possible research on reasons for low rates of infertility and the development of better policies that can help curb theproblem.
Breaking previous myths
This study titled ‘Advances in Development Reverse Fertility Declines’ has shattered the previous belief that fertility levels in humans tend to decline as countries proceed towards high levels of social and economic development.
Human development index seems to be the key that can possibly unlock some great path breaking secrets that can help solve the problem of an ageing population for rich countries while boosting fertility rates.
The study has been published in this month’s issue of the journal ‘Nature’.
In:
