Over the past five years, the number of children in Oregon has dropped 4%
They report 35 states have fewer children than they had 5 years ago.
Ramifications:
- School closures, teacher layoffs
- Eventually, a lower tax base with fewer workers
- Eventually tighter labor markets, more strikes for higher pay, labor costs go up, prices go up, more inflation
- In 20-30 years will we have enough health care workers to meet the needs of the larger elderly population?
- The states with fewer children are likely to have a smaller Congressional representation in the future
- California’s fertility rate is 1.5. Oregon is 1.39. Vermont is 1.36.
