, Columnist
The Consequences of the U.S. Baby Bust
Boosting the birthrate would go a long way toward resolving a lot of political arguments.
Do it for your country.
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As people in other wealthy countries fretted in the 1990s and 2000s over what falling birthrates would mean for economic growth and retirement-program finances, the U.S. seemed to have far less to worry about. Fertility here remained at or near the replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman over her lifetime, and the country's long-honed ability to attract immigrants and quickly integrate them into the workforce provided a further economic boost.
Times have changed. Immigration has been a contentious topic lately, and illegal immigration has gone into reverse since 2007. Still, legal immigrants are still arriving and contributing to population growth.