Oct 17, 2008 12:00 pm US/Eastern
Bad Economy May Reduce Number Of Births
DENVER (CBS) ―
A demographer who tracks birth rates in the United States believes the economic downturn may keep some couples from having children over the next several months, reports CBS station KCNC-TV in Denver.
"I think at the moment there will be some effect," said Carl Haub, senior demographer with the Population Reference Bureau in Washington, D.C. "I think certainly it would be naive to say it won't be any effect."
Haub points to history as an indicator.
Just before the Great Depression in 1928, the fertility rate was 2.8 children per woman. In the 1930s, it dropped to 2.
In 1970 before the oil shock, the fertility rate was 2.5 children per woman. In 1976, the fertility rate fell to 1.7, the lowest in U.S. history.
At Rose Medical Center, the conversation is about the economy in the doctors' office.
"I've got parents who are worried about their jobs," said. Dr. Sue Trout, president of reproductive endocrinology at rose. "Are they going to be able to keep their job? What's that going to mean for insurance for a pregnancy?"
Some pregnant women admit the economy impacts decisions at home.
"Not making other major life decisions that we otherwise might have such as buying a house or buying a new more child-friendly car," said Molly Ferensic.
The cost of having a baby is between $10,500 and $11,500 a year.
The U.S. currently has a fertility rate of 2.1 child per woman.
Haub said the shifts in the number of children per woman aren't sudden. He expects to know more in 9 months.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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