Why Europeans Refuse to Reproduce

National Review ^ | 03/13 -2008 | Peter Robinson

[george76]

With just a single exception, the non-Muslim population of every country in Europe now has a birth rate at below replacement levels.

(The exception is Malta, and God bless it.)

Why... do Europeans so steadfastly refuse to reproduce?

Because... children are expensive. They require you to sacrifice your time and your interests and your own comfort.

“The spiritual dimension of the problem.”

There are so few children in Europe, in other words, because there are so few believers.

[RockinRight]

In the US it’s mainly immigrants (Muslim and otherwise) who reproduce the most.

And I don’t think it’s because they’re believers, I think it’s because most of them have never heard of how to use birth control and they screw like rabbits.

[ClearCase_guy]

They’re screwing themselves.

[MrB]

They’re not reproducing, because, like most leftists, they don’t want to give up their self-centered lifestyles.

At least they aren’t having the kids and still being self-centered.

[posterchild]

(The exception is Malta, and God bless it.)

And Malta is a wonderful place to visit with some of the prettiest women on earth.

[PapaBear3625]

Immigrants on welfare reproduce at a high rate, because kids are free

The European middle class does not reproduce because they are heavily taxed to pay for other people's kids

The day of reckoning is coming very soon, when the number of middle-class taxpayers are not enough to support the welfare state

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Even those who do have kids in our modern Western culture can't be said to be completely unselfish.

Some people seem to have kids as just another accessory in their lives, and another excuse to buy a bunch of useless crapola.

Everything is rusting and rotting.

[poobear]

Well, my good friends (married heterosexuals) in the Netherlands have three very beautiful children. Their first child was a girl. When they found out there last pregnancy was twins all of their friends thought they were out of their minds. Some wanted them to abort, others said adopt out one of the twins!

They are quite the spectacle at the local parks!

Maybe things will change but they still live in quarters we all would balk at even in college. Under 1000 sq ft., which is a lot in Amsterdam.

P.S. They are all blond blue eyed ‘devils’!

[lesser_satan]

It’s 98% Catholic, which explains the birthrate.

[Regulator]

It's not the only reason.

Many Europeans remember the war(s), the bitterness, the animosity. They really don't see it ending, just an interlude.

A lot of people just decided to have a nice life, enjoy what they could, and go away when they had to. The expense of children was not a factor for many; state education is free if you jump through the hoops.

They just don't see any point in continuing.

This isn't an opinion of mine. It's what some of the just-post-war generation told me when they were being candid.

[MrB]

The kid focussed families usually give up one income, and then can’t afford the crapola,

but they find themselves happier for it.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[Secret Agent Man]

Are you saying it’s kind of an “Atlas Shrugged” reaction going on in the European upper and middle class whites?

[King of Florida]

Personally, I think it’s the failure to bathe regularly, use deodorant, and shave armpit hair that keeps the birth rate low . . . .

[xJones]

It's not just Europeans; for instance, I have two sister-in-laws that declined reproduction and both stated the same reasons: money and time.

My brother's wife actually said that she could have more material goods without children - and my wimpy brother went along with her. And my spouse's brother and wife both agreed that if children were only a 5 year deal, then raising kids wouldn't be that bad, but raising them to 18-21 would really wreck their international vacations and it would be an awful expense. BTW, they're all Democrats.

[org.whodat]

They’re not reproducing, because, like most leftists, they don’t want to give up their self-centered lifestyles.

I would much rather that people who do not want kids don't have them as to the ones that have them and kill them.

[ArrogantBustard]

It’s 98% Catholic, which explains the birthrate.

The future belongs to those who bother to procreate ...

[wally_bert]

Some people are not cut out to be parents. One couple I know of has a couple of kids and they are accessories for the mom. It is the dad that is working day and night plus being the primary caregiver during what daytime free he has while the mom is in the office.

I couldn't live that way. My wife said she would not want to either.

[DallasDeb]

There was a thread on this topic from an article a couple weeks ago. I’ll try to find it and post it in a reply. More detail provided in the earlier article.

[colorado tanker]

This trend began well back in the 19th Century as Europe industrialized, well before the 20th Century secularization. Every country that begins to develop has seen birth rates begin to decline. Except for the Mormons, no faith has been able to resist the trend in large numbers.

It probably does have to do with the fact that in an urbanized country children are an economic cost, not asset.

So far, I haven't seen any country come up with an answer.