Birth-rate Pfoblems
The rise in the birth-rate in the June qiiarter of 1942 (compared with the average of the five preceding yerrs), followed by a much greater rise in the same quarter this year, raises interesting ques- tions. Under the abnormal circumstances of today we have no right to assume that this indicates any permanent corrective of the general .tendency to decline ; but an exact understanding of the causes might contribute to a solution of the grave question of a future dwindling population. Is the increase simply due to the desire in war-time to have families now rather than later?. Again, is it possible that many women have had children with the object of securing exemption from national service—a suggestion which agrees with the increased pressure that has recently been put upon women? It is likely that some part at any rate of the rise is due to the fact that -there is little grinding poverty today, and that parents feel that they can afford to have families. This assumption would afford an argument for family allowances and the Beveridge scheme in general. There is no sufficient reason to expect a reversal of the main tendency. But the temporary change does at least show that change, under certain circumstances, is possible. If we under- stand the circumstances, we should be able to promote the change.
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