In late January, Barreira was hired as a special commissioner in Spain's government to reverse the trend of falling fertility rates in the country.
According to CIA data , women have an average of just 1. Low fertility rates can be both a symptom and cause of larger economic woes. On the one hand, if people aren't reproducing, there are fewer people alive to keep the economy healthy through spending. On the other, low fertility rates can indicate the economy is already weak, and that people don't feel like they have the means to start families. Barreira, for her part, acknowledged to Spanish press in late February that "it isn't going to be possible to solve the problem overnight.
Over the next several months it'll be Barreira's job to produce a "clear diagnosis" of the problem, according to the Spanish newspaper Faro De Vigo. Already, the unemployment rate stands out as a clear sign the country needs a kickstart, Barreira said. Nearly half of all young people in Spain are jobless. She hasn't yet revealed specific plans to combat falling fertility in the face of widespread aging, but other countries may offer some creative ideas.
Women who give birth nine months later, on June 12, win a free refrigerator. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. Login Subscribe. My Account. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Chris Weller. Japan Demographics.
