Hi charlie the population of Singapore stands at 2009 4,987 millions( http://www.singstat.gov.sg/stats/themes/people/hist/popn.html ). Our government is encouraging family to have more baby, as they predicted at this slow pace and fertility rate down the road Singaporean maybe extinct. I'm not a expert in this area but from my observation in Philippine we share the same scenario I had business associate well to do, rich families staying in Manila they only wanted the most 2 sibling . Similarly, I had well to business associate in the province having 5 children considered an acceptable trend. Maybe the whole environment factor do play a part . To our government who argue that fertility rates have already fallen in Singapore and expect that trend to continue had underestimate the power of natural environment selection.
Like my friend in Manila, Jonell their grandparents on his Mom's side each had over 8 siblings his grandfather was one of 13 kids. They lived and worked on a farm in ilgan. When they decided to had a change of their environment they moved to Manila to venture out to their own business and become successful , they decided to only have two kids. Note he said "decided". In turn, and each of their kids had 2 kids respectively - decisions, not fate or instinct. So, don't discount how a new environment will change the way humans think and behave. From my own observation that culture, economic circumstances, and religion are larger influences than genes over just a few generations. In the advanced countries or even cities, opportunity cost plus these influences and a little bit of instinct drive the decisions to have children.
Like my friend in Manila, Jonell their grandparents on his Mom's side each had over 8 siblings his grandfather was one of 13 kids. They lived and worked on a farm in ilgan. When they decided to had a change of their environment they moved to Manila to venture out to their own business and become successful , they decided to only have two kids. Note he said "decided". In turn, and each of their kids had 2 kids respectively - decisions, not fate or instinct. So, don't discount how a new environment will change the way humans think and behave. From my own observation that culture, economic circumstances, and religion are larger influences than genes over just a few generations. In the advanced countries or even cities, opportunity cost plus these influences and a little bit of instinct drive the decisions to have children.
Feb 13, 2010
Have more Tiger babies
Singapore's total fertility rate slid to lowest-ever level of 1.23 last year
Have more Tiger babies
Singapore's total fertility rate slid to lowest-ever level of 1.23 last year
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called on couples to have more, not fewer, babies in the Year of the Tiger, which starts tomorrow. --PHOTO: ZAOBAO
SINGAPORE'S productivity push to grow the economy extends beyond the factory floor and corporate boardroom, to the bedroom.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called on couples to have more, not fewer, babies in the Year of the Tiger, which starts on Sunday.
His message comes amid a dire situation in which Singapore's total fertility rate slid to the lowest-ever level of 1.23 last year, down from 1.28 in 2008.
It is far below the replacement rate of 2.1. In other words, Singapore was short of at least 10,000 babies to replace Singaporeans in the community.
For the Chinese, the rate was even lower. It fell from 1.14 in 2008 to 1.09 last year, which is equal to the lows in 2003 and 2004.
Disclosing these figures in his Chinese New Year message, Mr Lee said: 'Probably the recession last year made couples hold back having babies. But it also reflects fundamental societal changes that are affecting all East Asian societies.'
