EPISODE · Jun 12, 2025 · 38 MIN
The hidden crisis behind global fertility rates with Birgit Van Hout (UNFPA)
from Women Leaders
In a world of kinetic wars and increasing expenditure on defence and security - coupled with the culture wars so exacerbated by the extremes of left and right - we often forget, or probably ignore, the wider context of bombs and ideologies: people. And in many parts of the world humans are diminishing in numbers, rapidly - apart from most parts of Africa, no continent any longer attains the 2.1 replacement rate of fertility.The United Nations Population Fund just released an important report on this reality. The Fertility Fallacy presents fascinating insights on the roles of income, expectation and the inadequacy of policies seeking to either boost fertility or blame one of the genders (usually women). At base, it suggests people are not irrational: if they feel insecure, and the choice is in their hands, they will have less babies.The core problem is, of course, the future: who will work to pay for the aging populations? Who will inhabit the earth? How can we deal with these issues and changes better? Birgit van Hout is very well placed to provide a comprehensive picture: as Director of the UNFPA Representation Office to the European Union she not only deals with these issues daily, but also sits in the continent with the lowest overall fertility rate.An important and lively discussion on the underpinning realities of our lives and societies, in the most basic and crucial sense.This episode was recorded on 12 June 2025ChaptersCan women really have it all?Why are women having fewer children than they want?The real crisis behind the demographic declineHow COVID, war and media affect younger generationsThe backlash against women’s rights and rolesWhat is comprehensive sexuality education — and why it matters?What solutions are there to the fertility crisis?MentionsNew York Times article on the reportEU Work-life balance directiveEU youth checkGiles Merritt TimebombFollowBirgit Van Hout LinkedIn X/Twitter@women_leaders_podcastEuropean Leadership Network Twitter, LinkedIn, websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from UppbeatContribute to the conversation with a comment & a 5-⭐️Reach us on our Instagram and follow for updates @women_leaders_podcastWatch now our episode on Youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
In a world of kinetic wars and increasing expenditure on defence and security - coupled with the culture wars so exacerbated by the extremes of left and right - we often forget, or probably ignore, the wider context of bombs and ideologies: people. And in many parts of the world humans are diminishing in numbers, rapidly - apart from most parts of Africa, no continent any longer attains the 2.1 replacement rate of fertility.The United Nations Population Fund just released an important report on this reality. The Fertility Fallacy presents fascinating insights on the roles of income, expectation and the inadequacy of policies seeking to either boost fertility or blame one of the genders (usually women). At base, it suggests people are not irrational: if they feel insecure, and the choice is in their hands, they will have less babies.The core problem is, of course, the future: who will work to pay for the aging populations? Who will inhabit the earth? How can we deal with these issues and changes better? Birgit van Hout is very well placed to provide a comprehensive picture: as Director of the UNFPA Representation Office to the European Union she not only deals with these issues daily, but also sits in the continent with the lowest overall fertility rate.An important and lively discussion on the underpinning realities of our lives and societies, in the most basic and crucial sense.This episode was recorded on 12 June 2025ChaptersCan women really have it all?Why are women having fewer children than they want?The real crisis behind the demographic declineHow COVID, war and media affect younger generationsThe backlash against women’s rights and rolesWhat is comprehensive sexuality education — and why it matters?What solutions are there to the fertility crisis?MentionsNew York Times article on the reportEU Work-life balance directiveEU youth checkGiles Merritt TimebombFollowBirgit Van Hout LinkedIn X/Twitter@women_leaders_podcastEuropean Leadership Network Twitter, LinkedIn, websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from UppbeatContribute to the conversation with a comment & a 5-⭐️Reach us on our Instagram and follow for updates @women_leaders_podcastWatch now our episode on Youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The hidden crisis behind global fertility rates with Birgit Van Hout (UNFPA)
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