#291 Stephen J Shaw - The Birth Rate Crisis

Stephen J. Shaw is a renowned data scientist and demographer. He is the writer and director of ‘Birthgap - Childless World’, a documentary exploring the global decline in birth rates. You can check out part one of the documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6s8QlIGanA

In this episode we discuss the genesis of birth rate declines globally, overpopulation misconceptions in the West, as well as the ramifications of underpopulations. Our discussion touches on the challenges of public discourse around population growth, how the family nucleus has developed throughout history and the resulting impacts of religiosity on family formation.

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:15) Initial birthrate concerns

(03:30) Overpopulation misconceptions

(20:27) Underpopulation ramifications

(37:10) Historical population recovery examples

(39:14) Population public discourse

(52:13) Family formations

(57:34) Family and religion

(1:04:43) Motivating factors

(1:17:29) Fatherhood

(1:21:59) Closing comments