<p>Typically, a society’s population remains stable if women have about 2.1 children each. By that metric, the word has a big problem. In developed countries the total fertility rate is well below that figure. So what are the economic consequences of that shortfall? Soumaya Keynes speaks to Melissa Kearney, a professor at the University of Notre Dame and the director of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group, which recently put out a series on the topic: Demographic Headwinds: The Economic Consequences of Lower Birth Rates and Longer Lives.They discuss why the fertility rate won’t reverse course any time soon — and what happens when the rest of the baby boomers retire.</p><br><p><strong>Further reading: </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/e1a7fd72-9790-498e-a4ef-9380f5da1e9e?accessToken=zwAAAZ56v4jQktPhp_1yl5BJjtOk75OA9doentOwhCXB8s5Ii9OpXEuSpebLOAE.MEUCIQCjYLDur8tTjrPxy3nJNGMqZVeIviACKUW0uWmmGOlgSgIgMhR0qZxHnuFVsv-h3VC62JNsQ1HNbhQ1uFSW2pdLRH0&amp;segmentId=85462057-4e57-56c2-164f-e4ce1f09e15f" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Why are fertility rates collapsing? Gender roles</a></p><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/b08425c1-f2ce-488b-a95c-4b92a5e6cb38?accessToken=zwAAAZ56v4jQktPhp_1yl5BJjtOk75OA9doentOwhCXB8s5Ii9OpXEuSpebLOAE.MEUCIQCjYLDur8tTjrPxy3nJNGMqZVeIviACKUW0uWmmGOlgSgIgMhR0qZxHnuFVsv-h3VC62JNsQ1HNbhQ1uFSW2pdLRH0&amp;segmentId=85462057-4e57-56c2-164f-e4ce1f09e15f" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Could working from home solve the global fertility crisis?</a></p><br><p>Subscribe to Soumaya's show on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-economics-show-with-soumaya-keynes/id1746352576" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/64rPqCkSSBkuSJpkMLRe9i?si=70c1cb4221e54c9a" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://pca.st/6ysdzw0j" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pocket Casts</a> or wherever you listen.</p><p>Presented by Soumaya Keynes. Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. Michela Tindera is the senior producer. Original music and sound design by Breen Turner. The FT head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.</p><br><p><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/caed8401-27bf-48d6-92f5-bdd90ca102ba" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com</strong></a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>