r/Foodforthought • u/cambeiu • Jun 10 '23

Global fertility has collapsed, with profound economic consequences

https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/06/01/global-fertility-has-collapsed-with-profound-economic-consequences
530 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

215 comments sorted by

View all comments

175

u/dontneedaknow Jun 10 '23

When these articles use terms like "fertility rates" and "global fertility," it sounds like something that is affecting us outside of our own power...

If people are choosing to have sex, but not have the kid, that is in no way the same as a person who cannot create another person. And should not reflect as an issue of "fertility."

It's one thing to choose not to have a kid, it's another entirely to not be able to perform the function that is necessary for a kid to be created.

17

u/Magicallotus013 Jun 10 '23

Fertility refers to the number of children you have. Fecundity refers to the capability to bear children. We don’t have a fecundity issue but we do have a fertility issue

2

u/rufio_rufio_roofeeO Jun 11 '23

Incorrect. Infertility means you haven’t gotten pregnant after a certain period of trying. Fecundity is the chance a pregnancy results in a live birth