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Economic Consequences of Low Fertility in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • David E. Bloom

    (Harvard School of Public Health)

  • Alfonso Sousa-Poza

    (University of Hohenheim)

Abstract

This special issue of the European Journal of Population focuses on possible economic consequences of low fertility in Europe. This introduction reviews the history of falling fertility in Europe and the literature that explores its causes, its potential implications, and possible policy responses. It also summarizes the evolution of thinking about the relationship between population growth and economic development, with attention to recent work on the mechanisms through which fertility decline can spur economic growth if the necessary supporting conditions are met. The introduction also identifies some of the challenges of population aging that are associated with low fertility and suggests that there may be less reason for alarm than has been suggested by some observers. The papers that appear in this special issue are also summarized.

Suggested Citation

  • David E. Bloom & Alfonso Sousa-Poza, 2010. "Economic Consequences of Low Fertility in Europe," PGDA Working Papers 5410, Program on the Global Demography of Aging.
    • Handle: RePEc:gdm:wpaper:5410
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    File URL: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/pgda/WorkingPapers/2010/PGDA_WP_54.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. David E. Bloom & David Canning & Günther Fink & Jocelyn E. Finlay, 2010. "The Cost of Low Fertility in Europe [Le coût de la basse fécondité en Europe]," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 26(2), pages 141-158, May.
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    20. Bloom, David E. & Canning, David & Mansfield, Richard K. & Moore, Michael, 2007. "Demographic change, social security systems, and savings," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 92-114, January.
    21. Francesco C. Billari & Hans‐Peter Kohler & Gunnar Andersson & Hans Lundström, 2007. "Approaching the Limit: Long‐Term Trends in Late and Very Late Fertility," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 33(1), pages 149-170, March.
    22. Tomáš Sobotka & Laurent Toulemon, 2008. "Overview Chapter 4: Changing family and partnership behaviour," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(6), pages 85-138.
    23. Mikko Myrskylä & Hans-Peter Kohler & Francesco C. Billari, 2009. "Advances in development reverse fertility declines," Nature, Nature, vol. 460(7256), pages 741-743, August.
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    3. Ana-Maria AMARIEI (COJOCARIU), 2015. "Comparative Analyses Of Fertility Evolution In Iasi County," CES Working Papers, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 7(2), pages 224-231, August.
    4. Silvia Battino & Salvatore Lampreu, 2019. "The Role of the Sharing Economy for a Sustainable and Innovative Development of Rural Areas: A Case Study in Sardinia (Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-20, May.

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    Economic consequences; low fertility; Europe;
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