Decrease in Infant Birth Rate

Throughout history, the human population has shown a steady incremental growth, but advances in science and technology during the past century have spiked that growth to alarming levels. Yet, even before the sharp rise in the population, experts began to predict dire problems for the future of the world should this trend continue. One of the most famous of these experts, Thomas Malthus, predicted that overpopulation and the ensuing famine would literally induce an apocalyptic event. Nevertheless, as several eminent scientists have proclaimed, a natural solution seems to have mitigated the concern for the population problem, and ironically, the solution has appeared from the very same advances in science and technology. Specifically, the birthrate in most developed countries have decreased for several decades thanks to rising number of jobs in the tertiary sector, decreasing infant mortality rate and increasing level of education in the technology sector in these nations.

The global economy is composed primarily of three sectors: primary, secondary and tertiary. In the primary sector, which includes most developing countries, occupations are related to extraction of raw materials, such as in fishing, farming and mining. These occupations demand much physical labor. Especially in agricultural societies of the primary sector, families need several members to provide labour for farms and to look after parents in old age. As developing countries advance, however, the economic structure shifts toward the secondary and tertiary sectors, which sustain themselves through manufacturing and services, respectively. Therefore, as more countries develop, there is less need for extensive physical labor and for large families, therefore leading to a decrease in the infant birth rate.

In many poor countries, although high mortality rates and low life expectancies are still common, both have shown steady progress over the past few decades due to better housing, more food, and clean water supplies. Hospitals are also more readily accessible, allowing mothers to give birth in sanitary environments, rather than risking death to themselves or their unborn babies. These two trends, rising life expectancy and decreasing infant mortality rates, have significantly affected the birth rate in developing nations. As more people live longer to adulthood, the demand for workers are satisfied; and since more babies survive their births, larger families are no longer necessary. In short, medical improvements have led to decreases in the mortality rate, which in turn has decreased the birthrate.

Education has also profoundly affected the population problem for the better. Statistics indicate that parents, especially mothers, with more education tend to have fewer children. More and more women seek education and, therefore, marry at a later age, meaning that they can have fewer children. In addition, many women continue on to higher levels of education and sacrifice traditional roles such as mother and wife. General medical and hygienic education, too, has helped to decrease the birth rate in these countries. Women in developing countries are learning about effective contraceptive methods and preventing accidental pregnancies.

In conclusion, there are various factors that cause decrease in infant birth rate, but the most common factors are rising number of jobs in the tertiary sector, decreased infant mortality rate and increasing level of education. All three factors are characteristics that developed nations possess and appear in newly industrialising countries (countries that are considered to be in an intermediate stage between developing countries and developed countries).

Jinhyung Cho