Don’t let ‘no flat, no baby’ become self-fulfilling prophecy

I agree with the writer of “Procreation: Space may not matter, but mindsets do” (Oct 21, online). Some couples prefer getting their flats before deciding to have babies.

In 1960, our total fertility rate (TFR) was 5.76, higher than the world average of 5.0. Singapore was a Third World nation then, and most of us lived in crammed houses with extended families.

Perhaps if we look at fertility rates round the world, we could understand the crux of the issue better.

Europe’s fertility rates (Central Europe and the Baltics: 1.4; European Union: 1.5 — in 2014) are the lowest even though some of its nations provide generous baby and parenthood welfare schemes.

The statistics help us to understand why some European nations are taking in huge numbers of immigrants in recent years: To compensate for baby shortages and decline in workforces owing to ageing populations.

We could also deduce that religion plays a part in the high fertility rate (3.4) in the Arab World.

Even more enlightening is that people in low-income nations have more than twice the number of babies (TFR: 4.8) than those in high-income nations (1.7). Affordability of raising children seems not to concern these poor people much.

Also, people in fragile and conflict-affected situations (TFR: 4.4) do not seem much affected by the harsh, volatile conditions when it comes to raising children.

Understandably, we pursue a higher standard of living than in many nations, and most of our women must work.

We respect the preference of those who want to have their flats first, but let us be mindful to not let this notion become a self-fulfilling prophecy.