I have been increasingly vocal about the seriousness of low fertility rates on not only the economy, but mental health, preservation of culture, history and the health of the planet. I believe lack of fertility is the single largest, unappreciated factor that we all face today. Luckily for some countrymen, their politicians agree with me and are striving to reward those who bring beautiful babies into this world!
I have written about this with other countries so please, check out those articles too!
Two noteworthy European countries who literally pay for you to have children are Hungary and Russia. But there are others who are aiming to preserve their culture above the 2.1 fertility rate: Mongolia and Kazakhstan (both of whom are radically privatizing their economy; offering many low tax regimes; great interest rates on term deposits; geopolitical neutrality; energy powerhouses)
Mongolia
I had no idea, but championing mothers who have many children has been promoted in Mongolia for 68 years! Mongolian leaders have given the Order of Maternal Glory to mothers.
Mongolia’s incomes are comparable to its neighbours while still having women play mother significantly more often. It is developing rapidly developing in urban areas and foreign investment is exploding.
Interestingly, the Mongolian President holds separate ceremonies by district, in order to be able to give more personal attention to recipients. Women are ranked in three categories depending on how many children they have, between 4-7+ births. There is a cash award too, but it is just $60 for a mother of six. Clearly, this strictly about motherhood and status in Mongolian society. This is also not a case of religiously driven fertility as most are Buddhist or Atheist.
Face and The Point
Asia is a collectivistic society; Behaviour, world-view, attitudes, life-decisions is based upon the collective group or greater society as opposed to the individualist approach that is unique to the Western world. Furthermore, many Asian countries adopt the notion of “face” which is to say ones social status or their social ranking amongst the collective. The concept of “face” refers to one’s personal sense of esteem, honor, dignity, and prestige. Therefore, there is a set of behaviours that are viewed to raise face, and there are behaviours whereby you “lose” face.
Failing a test in school, being late for your boss or dressing inappropriately in public are all negative towards face. On the contrary, working overtime for your employer, looking thin and receiving job raises are all enhancing to ones face.
I lived with an Asian family & I now have a few stories to tell–Join the Live Chat in the Silver Plan (cheapest).
Currently, in countries like Japan and South Korea, the cultural priority is held in working to death (literally) and striving to achieve the highest position in school or the workplace. Ironically, they miss the forest for the trees as there won’t be any university or workplace without people around to run it!
On the contrary, Mongolia and Kazakhstan are both collectivistic-leaning societies relative to say Ireland, Spain or Argentina. Yet, their culture values having more children and a high fertility rate in the world. This is not an artificial stimulant from government cheques or religious beliefs; it is inherent to the people and their wishes.
I’d be lying if I told you how such a shift could be made across Asia–but it seems increasingly the case to me that while everybody in the West are getting “face lifts”, Asia needs a “face shift”. This is so the culture can begin recognizing that honour, dignity, courage and a family-name is best achieved by having children (for ones nation) as opposed to working 70 hour work weeks to leave nothing behind. I am completely unsure whether this change will take place and in many ways, I think it may be too late for Eastern Asian countries.
JAPAN IS IN TROUBLE. SAME WITH SOUTH KOREA
Closing
Currently, the world is facing a massive problem that remains unspoken about in mainstream conversation. It is the lack of fertility rates and the complete failure to turn the tide on this problem. South Korea spent $200b trying to increase its birthrate while Hungary spends 5% of GDP. Both are failing to produce a significant difference. Yet the small country of Georgia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan spiked its birthrate massively without spending a serious amount. These countries understood that fertility isn’t about money. It’s about status or as I say, ones “face” in Asian society.
It is paramount for a shift to occur so to ensure that these countries are able to live on, at least in their current form.
#StayOnTheBall
