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Episode details

World Service,12 Oct 2026,17 mins

Why are birth rates falling across the world?

Business Daily

Available for over a year

Birth rates are falling across much of the world, raising questions about the future of ageing populations and economies. We look at why people are having fewer children, from the financial pressures facing couples in the US to changing social attitudes. We also examine government efforts to reverse the trend, including Finland's generous family support system and Hungary's costly incentives for larger families.

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