Effects of Low Birth rate in European Economy

One cannot overemphasize the value of higher birth rates in developed countries. Birth rate can be defined as the number of individuals born into a population within a period of time. It is stated as the number of persons born in a population per 1000.
In the last decade, the birth rate has decreased drastically and if not checked, would result in a continued decline in the working population which could lead to a poor labor force. Today, the patterns of family formation in most developed countries have been a matter of concern as a result of low birth rates. While the decline in the birth rate can be attributed to affluent lifestyles, the desire for women to pursue careers, the gross effect could have a negative impact on the economy.
Governments have created steps particularly through immigration to increase the birth rate. Although recent studies by (Office of National Statistics, 2009) have shown that there has been an increase in the birth rate in the United Kingdom, which is mainly due to immigration. Hence, there is still a need for long-term replacement.