Why Singapore has to pay you $70,000 for a baby
In this solo commentary, Nuseir Yassin warns that Singapore’s total fertility rate of 0.87 is far below the replacement level of 2.1, leading to a rapid population decline across generations. He illustrates the math: 100 adults produce only 44 children, who then produce 19 grandchildren, an 81% drop in the second generation. Yassin links this demographic shrinkage to economic collapse—fewer workers, consumers, and taxpayers, and a rising burden of elderly care—arguing that without babies, stock markets and national prosperity will suffer. He compares Singapore’s rate to other low‑fertility nations (South Korea 0.8, China 1.0, Japan 1.15, Italy 1.14, Spain 1.1, Germany 1.32, US 1.6) and projects that many developed countries could lose half their population by 2050. The Singapore government’s $70,000 baby incentive is presented as a response to this crisis. Yassin concludes with a personal pledge to have 2.1 children and urges everyone to have children for the sake of humanity, not just for financial incentives.
