Birth rate still declining....
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http://www.todayonline.com/pda/199846ag.htm
A stronger call for the stork
Friday • July 13, 2007
Derrick A Paulo
[email protected]
THE stork is making a comeback of sorts in Singapore, as the number of births last year increased the most since 1990, excepting the "auspicious" Dragon Year in 2000.
There were 38,317 live births, which is a 2.2-per cent increase, or 825 births more, than in 2005.
This finally reverses the falling birth rate of Singapore residents, which has been on a downward trend since 1980, when the rate was based only on this group. There were 10.1 live births per 1,000 residents last year, up from 10.
And for the second consecutive year, the total fertility rate has inched up, from 1.25 in 2005 to 1.26 last year. It was 1.24 in 2004.
Although the gains are small, National University of Singapore sociologist Paulin Straughan said the figures from the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths should not be sniffed at.
"We're at the sad state where anything not going south is good news," she said. "So, it's encouraging news that first of all, the numbers have not fallen, and secondly, they've gone up."
A closer look at the numbers offers more signs for optimism.
First-time mothers contributed 45 per cent of all live births last year, while 36 per cent were by mothers having their second child.
Compared to 2005, this is an increase of 2.2 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively, an "encouraging" development according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), which issued the report.
Associate Professor Straughan told TODAY that the decision to have the first child is always the most difficult to make. So, the increasing number of births in this category is good news, and comes after the Baby Bonus scheme extended benefits to the first and fourth child from August 2004 onwards.
However, the ICA said that the "immediate impact" of the scheme "has not been felt", based on the age and waiting period for mothers to have their first or subsequent child.
The median age of first-time mothers was 29.4 years at the time of giving birth. Malay mothers have their first child at 25.6 years against 30.1 years for the Chinese, 27.9 years for Indians and 29.1 years for other ethnic groups.
Furthermore, Malays have their first child 408 days after marriage while the Chinese do so in 978 days, Indians after 801 days and 505 days for other ethnic groups.
Still, there is a more pro-family climate now, noted Assoc Prof Straughan, who offered one other possible reason for the improving birth rates: The economy.
She said: "The economy has been doing well, and investment in children requires a certain level of optimism. If the numbers didn't go up, it'll be worrying. You'd wonder what is needed to tip the trend."
In other data on births, 495 babies were born to single mothers, of which 35.8 per cent were teenagers. Half the single mothers were Malays, up from 30.1 per cent in 1997, when single parent births stood at 419 in total.
Teenage births fell by 1.8 per cent last year to 838, but which is still higher than the 704 births in 1997. -
If anybody needs my services, send me a pm.
Sankyu -
The govt needs. Kindly report yourself to MOM.Originally posted by DC+:If anybody needs my services, send me a pm.
Sankyu -
10k per child still can consider
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Stil the same old issue. High living cost in Singapore. People rather be DINK.
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cost of living keeps going up. pay still so low.
why would i want to have a child to make my already miserable life even more miserable than it is now?
even if i want to have a child i wont have them be born in singapore. -
x infinity.....Originally posted by digicharat:cost of living keeps going up. pay still so low.
why would i want to have a child to make my already miserable life even more miserable than it is now?
even if i want to have a child i wont have them be born in singapore.
they are not solving the problem of high cost of living + low pay... they wan increase in birthrate, they better do something abt it... with increase of gst it will decline further... -
I think next time my kids will have double passports. And they'll definitely be born overseas.
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aiyo, let the govt worry and do something lah. they get paid millions of $$$$ let them handle.
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they call me, the drill
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money issue.
give so little want people to give birth so much.
i mean... how much the paltry sum of money they give do? even if they give 10k, how long can it last? -
maybe till the kid is say, 6 years old?Originally posted by Ristar:money issue.
give so little want people to give birth so much.
i mean... how much the paltry sum of money they give do? even if they give 10k, how long can it last? -
good..
frankly, the world is overpopulated already...
the scientists calculate that we're at 125% of renewable resources..
if we keep growing, we're doomed... -
I doubt their sincerity in giving baby bonus. my neighbour whose baby just arrived few months ago told me that in order to receive the baby bonus, he got to put in $$$ in the account then the govt give the bonus. For eg, if you deposit $500 in the account, the govt gives you $500. So you say leh, are they sincere?Originally posted by Ristar:money issue.
give so little want people to give birth so much.
i mean... how much the paltry sum of money they give do? even if they give 10k, how long can it last?
govt wants people to show them the money first then they give money. Crap! 
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really ah.Originally posted by zix1:I doubt their sincerity in giving baby bonus. my neighbour whose baby just arrived few months ago told me that in order to receive the baby bonus, he got to put in $$$ in the account then the govt give the bonus. For eg, if you deposit $500 in the account, the govt gives you $500. So you say leh, are they sincere? govt wants people to show them the money first then they give money. Crap! 
but think of it this way. thats why they are the govt.
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but according to the govt of singapore, the population here is declining.Originally posted by the Bear:good..
frankly, the world is overpopulated already...
the scientists calculate that we're at 125% of renewable resources..
if we keep growing, we're doomed... -
ya, money money money, all is about $$$$. Increase $$$$ for this, increase $$$ for that, increase $$$$ and lots of it for their salary increment. Why so much money talk from them?Originally posted by Ristar:think of it this way. thats why they are the govt. -
govt.Originally posted by zix1:ya, money money money, all is about $$$$. Increase $$$$ for this, increase $$$ for that, increase $$$$ and lots of it for their salary increment. Why so much money talk from them? -
so?
we've gone way over the level of comfortable living..
they just want more people in order to maintain a flawed economic model of 'growth'
so, are we to sacrifice the future on the altar of the false gods of economics?
think about it... we will be using more and more of the resources which we cannot replace... which means we give our descendants a ravaged and destroyed earth..
for economic 'growth' now?Originally posted by zix1:but according to the govt of singapore, the population here is declining. -
durex business better and better........
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im no business student, so... would u care to enlighten me about this flawed economic model u r talking about n the perfect economic model in your mind?Originally posted by the Bear:so?
we've gone way over the level of comfortable living..
they just want more people in order to maintain a flawed economic model of 'growth'
so, are we to sacrifice the future on the altar of the false gods of economics?
think about it... we will be using more and more of the resources which we cannot replace... which means we give our descendants a ravaged and destroyed earth..
for economic 'growth' now? -
if i had a perfect model i'd be killed
but seriously.. where is the limit? is there one in any model?
and in every model, they usually fail when put in real life right?
back to the thing.. is there a limit? do you put an economic cost on resources? is there an economic cost which is 'acceptable' at all because all the politicians and economists do is to move the 'acceptable' level..
we've moved it until we have reached what i would term The Age of Consequence...
what is the model we are using now? and why is the world so screwed yet we're still following it like slaves? yet we do...
you are a business student.. sometimes, there is more to humanity than profit.. but most business studies, that's the be-all and end-all..Originally posted by Ristar:im no business student, so... would u care to enlighten me about this flawed economic model u r talking about n the perfect economic model in your mind? -
ha? i actually said i m not a bizness student.... actually, i dunno anything abt bizness, in this sense.
other than to buy low and sell high, which any tom dik or harry on the streets know. -
sorry.. i'm pretty sleepy
but do think about that..
we are heading towards an abyss... if we keep listening to the flawed economics being sprouted by the politicians for their own agenda -
haha... yah... its pretty late already. actually, its very late.Originally posted by the Bear:sorry.. i'm pretty sleepy
but do think about that..
we are heading towards an abyss... if we keep listening to the flawed economics being sprouted by the politicians for their own agenda hahahahaha...
i think that politicians would use a "better" model if they have one. but i think that too much is at stake here ie; survival/advancement of an entire nation.
i would like to have a nicer earth too. i watched the news report on how crappy china's water is. eeewwww...
so... i guess the only way is to have cleaner and efficient technologies. lol, there i go again.