Births falling, but don't blame the Tiger
"Economic downturn more likely behind dip than 'inauspicious' year", The Straits Times, 27 Nov 2010, pg 1. Often effects of living in an modern urban environment invariably causes birth rates to be low. This observation is seen across a wide section of cities all around the world. What then are the effects? Popular issues include the many distraction, high cost or living, lack of support, too much expectations on limited resources. In "People Power", The Straits Times article dated 31 Dec 2010, pg A18 it was stated that the fertility rate is 1.10 children per woman and the median age as 39.6 with life expectancy at 82.1 for the Singapore population. These figures are startling considering the general call by the government to produce more against a backdrop of emerging countries to produce less. In sustaining families, it has come to expect the extended family plays an important role by which siblings and grandparents offer a means of support. Still for ma