Russian 'sex day' to boost birth rate

[Tender Branson]

The governor of Ulyanovsk region in Russia is offering prizes to couples who have babies in exactly nine months - on Russia's national day on 12 June.

Sergei Morozov wants couples to take the day off work to have sex. If a baby is born on national day, they will receive cars, TVs or other prizes.

Mr Morozov has declared Wednesday "family contact day" as part of efforts to fight Russia's demographic crisis.

The population has sharply declined since the Soviet Union collapsed.

This is the third year that Ulyanovsk, in central Russia, is offering prizes for babies born on 12 June.

This year, a couple won the grand prize of a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

The initiative seems to be paying off, as the region's birth rate has risen by 4.5% over the last year.

"If there's a good, healthy atmosphere at home within the family, if the husband and wife both love each other and their child, they will be in good spirits... so there'll be a healthy atmosphere throughout the country," Mr Morozov told the Associated Press news agency.

Demographers estimate that Russia could lose 40 million people - almost a third of its current population - by the middle of the century.

A combination of falling birth rates, emigration and an ailing healthcare system has led to the decline.

President Vladimir Putin has introduced a scheme to encourage more children.

Women who have a second or third child are eligible to receive $9,000, which can be used to pay for education or home purchases.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6990802.stm

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Hey - if it works.

But it explains why their gov't is still broke.  Don't blame the Cold War - blame the lack of condoms.

[Tender Branson]

The number of births in the US is now the highest since 1960, up by 3% last year, going from 4.143 Mio. in 2005 to 4.269 Mio. in 2006, while the number of deaths went down by roughly 1% from 2.432 Mio. to 2.416 Mio. The natural increase is now roughly 2 Mio. each year + more than 1 Mio. (legal) immigrants each year. So, no Russia-like problem for the US.

[StateBoiler]

The number of births in the US is now the highest since 1960, up by 3% last year, going from 4.143 Mio. in 2005 to 4.269 Mio. in 2006, while the number of deaths went down by roughly 1% from 2.432 Mio. to 2.416 Mio. The natural increase is now roughly 2 Mio. each year + more than 1 Mio. (legal) immigrants each year. So, no Russia-like problem for the US.

Give us about 15 or so years.

[Tender Branson]

The number of births in the US is now the highest since 1960, up by 3% last year, going from 4.143 Mio. in 2005 to 4.269 Mio. in 2006, while the number of deaths went down by roughly 1% from 2.432 Mio. to 2.416 Mio. The natural increase is now roughly 2 Mio. each year + more than 1 Mio. (legal) immigrants each year. So, no Russia-like problem for the US.

Give us about 15 or so years.

Do you think by 2020 the US will have a natural population decrease + zero immigration ? Highly unlikely. The US won´t reach Central European birth and death rates for a very long time.

[StateBoiler]

The number of births in the US is now the highest since 1960, up by 3% last year, going from 4.143 Mio. in 2005 to 4.269 Mio. in 2006, while the number of deaths went down by roughly 1% from 2.432 Mio. to 2.416 Mio. The natural increase is now roughly 2 Mio. each year + more than 1 Mio. (legal) immigrants each year. So, no Russia-like problem for the US.

Give us about 15 or so years.

Do you think by 2020 the US will have a natural population decrease + zero immigration ? Highly unlikely. The US won´t reach Central European birth and death rates for a very long time.

I can't speak for the birth rate in 2020 cause we don't know the social circumstances at that time, nor the level of immigration. However, our death rate will spike once the boomers start dying in higher numbers.

[Tender Branson]

The number of births in the US is now the highest since 1960, up by 3% last year, going from 4.143 Mio. in 2005 to 4.269 Mio. in 2006, while the number of deaths went down by roughly 1% from 2.432 Mio. to 2.416 Mio. The natural increase is now roughly 2 Mio. each year + more than 1 Mio. (legal) immigrants each year. So, no Russia-like problem for the US.

Give us about 15 or so years.

Do you think by 2020 the US will have a natural population decrease + zero immigration ? Highly unlikely. The US won´t reach Central European birth and death rates for a very long time.

I can't speak for the birth rate in 2020 cause we don't know the social circumstances at that time, nor the level of immigration. However, our death rate will spike once the boomers start dying in higher numbers.

I think this is overrated. Look at Germany. 20% of its population is over 65, 25% is over 60, yet the overall death rate remains at 1%. The same in Japan. Take a look at the US, where just 12% are over 65 and just 17% above 60. The death rate is even declining as more people grow older. The death rate stands at 0,8%. So even if the US is approaching Germany and Japan in 20-30 years and 20% will be aged 65+, the death rate is unlikely to go higher than 1%. The birth rate will decrease, but will likely stay in the 1.2% range. And for sure immigration will continue, so that the US will likely still grow by more than 0.5% each year after 2030 ...