Deep Dive Podcast: Why incentives aren’t working for falling fertility rates
Singaporeans are wealthier and more educated than before - and that has an impact on our total fertility rate.
CNA's weekly news podcast takes a deep dive into issues that people talk about at dining tables and along the office corridors. Hosted by Steven Chia and Crispina Robert.
Jump to these key moments:
- 1:51 Developed nation problem
- 5:11 What women want has changed
- 7:42 Why isn't money enough?
- 12:16 Stressed out in Singapore
- 21:26 Can our TFR be reversed?
Singapore’s total fertility rate has fallen to a historic low of 0.97. Citizens aren’t having enough children to sustain population numbers and all the money spent to encourage procreation doesn’t seem to work.
Steven Chia and Crispina Robert talk about what’s causing the decline with Dr Norman Li, psychology professor at the Singapore Management University, and mother of one, Holly Fang.
Dr Norman Li on the impact of a developed country on fertility:
(Today's) work takes a lot of time and then you need time to destress and to do other things ... Children still need a lot of time ... they require more time now because of this competitive world to get them ready (for it).
Dr Li on what else needs to change:
So now we're looking at making workplaces more family friendly, I think that's a good step, we have to look into more of the psychological factors (that prevent people from having children).
Holly Fang, mother of one:
(What the government) can control is to give a lot of bonuses and child support. It is doing all it can. But frankly, I just don't see how the government can really change what women want out of their lives.
Holly on wanting more out of life:
As a society, we are just constantly in the pursuit of something better ... and so we are constantly delaying this process of birth ... to the point of no return.
Source: CNA/cr
