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“Baby Bust”: The Impact of COVID-19 on Declining Fertility Rates

Please join the Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative, in collaboration with EMD Serono, the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, for a panel discussion highlighting U.S. and global fertility trends pre-COVID-19 and the further implications of COVID-19 on demographic trends. Our expert panel will focus on the causes of declining birthrates; the impact of the pandemic; the implications of decreasing fertility rates for economic growth, social support systems, and caregiving; and possible policy interventions to address these issues; as well as discuss what these economic, demographic, and social shifts mean for women more broadly. 

Date & Time

Thursday
Jun. 10, 2021
9:00am – 10:30am ET

Overview

The live event webcast will appear on this webpage promptly at 9:00 am EST. If it does not immediately appear on the webpage, please refresh your screen at 9:00 am.

U.S. and global fertility rates have been in decline for years and the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified this trend—possibly with lasting consequences, particularly for women. Decreasing fertility rates and lower desire to have children can have serious implications on economic growth. The “baby bust” also has implications for population dynamics in the years to come – fewer births in the next few years could lead to less support as today’s workforce hits retirement age. To ensure the health and longevity of our societies, it is imperative that policy makers account for these trends when creating legislation impacting social safety nets, support for caregivers, and reproductive health services.

Please join the Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative, in collaboration with EMD Serono, the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, for a panel discussion highlighting U.S. and global fertility trends pre-COVID-19 and the further implications of COVID-19 on demographic trends. Our expert panel will focus on the causes of declining birthrates; the impact of the pandemic; the implications of decreasing fertility rates for economic growth, social support systems, and caregiving; and possible policy interventions to address these issues; as well as discuss what these economic, demographic, and social shifts mean for women more broadly. 

Send questions for our panelists during the event to mhi@wilsoncenter.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter at @Wilson_MHI & @EMDSerono and on Instagram at @MaternalHealthInitiative using the hashtag #MHDialogue. Find more coverage of these issues on our blog, NewSecurityBeat.org/Dot-Mom.


Hosted By

Maternal Health Initiative

Life and health are the most basic human rights, yet disparities between and within countries continue to grow. No single solution or institution can address the variety of health concerns the world faces. By leveraging, building on, and coordinating the Wilson Center’s strong regional and cross-cutting programming, the Maternal Health Initiative (MHI) promotes dialogue and understanding among practitioners, scholars, community leaders, and policymakers.  Read more

Environmental Change and Security Program

The Environmental Change and Security Program (ECSP) explores the connections between environmental change, health, and population dynamics and their links to conflict, human insecurity, and foreign policy.  Read more

Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy

The Center for Korean History and Public Policy was established in 2015 with the generous support of the Hyundai Motor Company and the Korea Foundation to provide a coherent, long-term platform for improving historical understanding of Korea and informing the public policy debate on the Korean peninsula in the United States and beyond.  Read more

Thank you for your interest in this event. Please send any feedback or questions to our Events staff.