Europe's Fertility Crisis: Love Without Offspring

Economic uncertainty and anxieties about the future are causing young Europeans to delay or forgo parenthood, leading to declining birth rates across the continent. Factors such as lack of work, access to housing, and concerns about the state of the world contribute to this trend. The 2007-2008 global financial crash and the COVID-19 pandemic have further deepened the effects on fertility. Structural labor-market changes, including automation, also play a role in reducing fertility rates. Experts suggest that governmental support and policies to address these concerns are needed to encourage couples to start or expand their families.