Latest news with #fertilityrate
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Dogs are treated like ‘child surrogates' by their owners, new study finds
A rise in dog ownership worldwide reflects a growing desire to nurture without the demands of raising children, researchers have suggested. The academics found that much of Europe, North America, and East Asia are now experiencing 'sub-replacement fertility ' – meaning people have fewer children than needed to maintain the population over time. Instead, dog ownership has gained in popularity over the last few decades, and in most European countries, a quarter to half of households own at least one dog, the researchers said. Dogs have long been considered members of the family, but the researchers found that "an increasing number of owners have begun to regard their dogs as their children." They added that 'some owners might see their dog as a child surrogate to spoil, others actively choose to have dogs and not children'. Owning a dog could 'offer an opportunity to fulfil a nurturing drive similar to parenting, but with fewer demands than raising biological offspring', the researchers said. The UK's fertility rate is already sinking but is projected to hit a low of 1.41 per woman over her lifetime in 2027 and stay at that rate for nearly a decade. Fertility rates in the UK have dropped faster than any other G7 nation since 2010, plummeting by nearly 25 per cent. The UK's fertility rate was at just 1.44 children per woman in 2023 – the lowest rate on record. The research, published in the journal European Psychologist, asked: 'Given the two trends of more dogs being viewed as family members and a decline in the number of children, an important question arises: are people choosing dogs as a substitute for children?' The researchers from the Department of Ethology at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary, found that pet dogs offer an opportunity to form close emotional connections with a dependent being, providing positive emotions and a sense of purpose that resemble those experienced by parents. People are beginning to choose dogs because they are 'easier to control and care for than a child', the researchers said. The report suggested that some humans have taken their 'biological needs to nurture and care for children' and 'redirected [it] towards animals'. 'Some childless owners seem to engage in care behaviours towards their companion animals that mirror the parents' investment in their children,' the academics found. 'The demands of caring for a companion animal have been found to reinforce the choice not to have children among some pet owners.' Laura Gillet, PhD student at the Eotvos Lorand University, said: ' Despite the high dependency and attachment of dogs to their caregivers, in the eyes of many, commitments coming with dog ownership remain less burdensome than child parenting. 'Among many factors, the relatively short lifespan of dogs might contribute to it, as most people expect to outlive their dog, but not their child.' However, the researchers pointed out that treating dogs as a substitute for children and seeking infantile traits in them raises several ethical concerns. This includes the breeding of unhealthy breeds or overprotective caring behaviours that may lead to emotional and behavioural problems in the dog. Eniko Kubinyi, senior author of the review, added: 'We would like to point out that, contrary to popular belief, only a small minority of dog owners actually treat their pets like human children. 'In most cases, dog parents choose dogs precisely because they are not like children, and they acknowledge their species-specific needs.'
Wall Street Journal
09-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Can Trump Raise the American Birthrate?
Editor's note: In this Future View, students discuss the potential for a baby boom. Next we'll ask: 'Are deportation policies for international college students fair, or should there be more protections in place?' Students should click here to submit opinions of fewer than 250 words by May 5. The best responses will be published Tuesday night. We Need an Economic Boom First If the White House wants a baby boom, its time is best spent trying to orchestrate an economic one. Consider Hungary, whose pronatalist policies are praised by Trump officials. Hungary spends 5% of gross domestic product on pro-birth policies, dwarfing the roughly 3.6% the U.S. spends on defense. Hungary's myriad birthrate inducements include income-tax reductions, subsidized mortgages, child-care allowances and interest-free loans of approximately $36,000, which are canceled if a couple has at least three children. These efforts make President Trump's proposed $5,000 'baby bonus'—the most ambitious pro-birth policy floated by the White House thus far—look paltry in comparison. Even if Mr. Trump proposed such an expensive policy apparatus, it wouldn't be the most efficient use of his political capital. Hungary's approach worked for a time, with the country's fertility rate rising through the 2010s to peak at 1.61 births per woman in 2021. It has declined notably in recent years, however, as birth incentives fail to outweigh rising costs and economic uncertainty. While Hungary's policies may help cushion the birthrate blow caused by a global economic contraction, Mr. Trump can do more if he governs judiciously to steer the U.S., and by extension the world, away from a global recession. It won't be only the U.S. birthrate that benefits from his actions. —Rachel Gambee, University of Oxford, Christian ethics We're All Depressed Why should people who don't feel optimistic about the future choose to procreate? Parenthood offers a purpose larger than oneself—a legacy, something to be proud of. It's a taxing responsibility, however, one that requires stability and hope. When people are anxious, uncertain and depressed, they tend to avoid such responsibilities. A 2016 study found that people satisfied with life are more likely to produce more life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42% of high-school students report feeling sad or hopeless most of the time. Another study finds that 58% of young adults feel alone most of the time. This crisis is compounded by economic challenges. A 2021 LinkedIn study found that nearly 40% of entry-level job postings require three years of experience, leaving young Americans shut out, even amid labor shortages. Better mental health, increased economic opportunity and national optimism are the ingredients for a baby boom. The White House must tackle these issues by prioritizing mental-health reform, ensuring fair economic opportunities, and restoring hope in America's future. Only then will we see a future where young Americans feel confident enough to build families and invest in tomorrow. —Mohammad Namous, Moravian University, political science Inspire the Young The Trump administration should champion emerging fertility technology to spur population growth. In vitro fertilization and advanced fertility treatments have transformed the American family's ability to have children. Millions face infertility, and while Mr. Trump supports IVF, his February executive order to expand fertility treatments doesn't do enough. The Trump administration should launch a campaign focused on the consequences of declining birthrates and what new technology can do to mitigate it. It should spotlight Americans who have reshaped society: Who will be the next Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Sally Ride or Sonia Sotomayor? These people, products of a robust generation with robust birthrates, have driven the nation forward. This is an opportunity for the administration to inspire the next generation of Americans. —Devin Mehta, University of Wisconsin-Madison, finance Turn to the Church, Not the White House A birthrate in decline is the mark of a nation in decline. America—like much of the developed world—is no longer maintaining its population through births. While it's encouraging that the Trump administration is concerned, the real problem is one of spiritual well-being. Only a return to religion will usher in a baby boom. America's declining birthrate is often attributed to unaffordable housing and child care, economic immobility and a host of others issues that justify expanded government interference. But this fails to address the root of a global issue. While the world's wealthiest—and least religious—nations are seeing a baby bust, the poorest—and most religious—are witnessing a baby boom. Declining birthrates aren't the result of an economic problem. They are a consequence of a religious problem. The administration still ought to pursue a pro-family agenda. Providing incentives narrowly targeted at young families in need can be helpful. Public policy, however, can go only so far. An encouraging number of young Americans are converting to Catholicism—embracing orthodoxy and tradition. This trend must continue. The administration should be applauded for trying to encourage a baby boom. But the answer will be found in the church, not the White House. —Connor Lee, Gonzaga University, political science Click here to submit a response to next week's Future View.
Wall Street Journal
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
An American Baby Boom? In This Economy?
A merry-go-round in Williamson, Sept. 25, 2023. Photo: Associated Press President Trump is apparently interested in offering new mothers a $5,000 baby bonus to boost the nation's fertility rate ('How to Make American Babies Again' by Leonard Lopoo, op-ed, April 30). 'Sounds like a good idea to me,' he said at a recent press conference. It isn't. When will our government learn that throwing taxpayers' money and the associated bureaucratic red tape at a problem doesn't solve it? Common sense would suggest that our birthrate is declining because of the cost and stress of raising a child. Our schools are failures; our streets aren't safe; our justice system favors the lawless; deadly drugs have long flowed across our border; the debt continues to grow; and the cost of food, energy, insurance, education and healthcare is alarming.
