Picture description: 

Image from the Wall Street Journal 

Two children,

wearing yellow hats and blue uniforms,

sitting on swings. 

Fenced playground in the mountains.

Few children in the playground, 

expansive, empty surroundings, 

unused playground equipment.

Symbolising: isolation (and loneliness) of youth.

Playgrounds are associated with an abundance of children, full of energy, noise, activity.

Here it is quiet.

This picture tells a story: a vivid narrative of declining populations. 

Key ideas:

Why don't young couples want to have children?

Career focus, 

financial instability, 

preference for personal freedom, 

fear of future uncertainties, 

influence of Western individualism.

Conversely:

Desire for family continuity, 

societal expectations, 

personal fulfillment, 

government incentives. 

How does a high cost of living affect decisions about marriage and family planning? 

Delays in family planning, 

preference for fewer children, 

increased use of family planning, 

higher single-adulthood rates, 

prioritization of career/education.

Conversely: 

Stronger financial planning, 

community support systems, 

government intervention to stabilize costs, 

increased value placed on family. 

Consequences of an aging population.

Increased healthcare costs, 

pension pressures, 

workforce shortages, 

slower economic growth, 

innovation stagnation.

What are some of the government policies used to counteract falling birth rates?

Financial incentives for families, 

subsidized childcare, 

flexible work policies, 

housing incentives, 

support women's career paths.

Challenges: 

High cost of implementation, 

ethical concerns on freedom of choice, dependency on state, 

long-term efficacy doubts.

Can immigration reverse population decline?

YES: 

Mitigates workforce shortages, 

cultural diversification, 

revitalization of communities, 

increased innovation, 

supports pension systems.

NO: 

Social integration challenges, 

potential for cultural clashes, 

strain on public services, 

job competition, 

transient solutions to permanent problems.

Can governments force women to have children? 

NO: 

Infringement on personal freedom, 

ethical dilemmas in enforcing policies, 

potential for demographic imbalances, 

risk of authoritarian control, 

privacy concerns.

Differences between raising a child in the city compared to the countryside:

In the city: 

Less community support, 

reliance on technological solutions, 

more structured educational activities, 

more professional childcare, 

higher costs of child-rearing, 

increased exposure to pollution,

access to better healthcare, 

exposure to diverse cultures, 

better educational opportunities.

Vocabulary:

Demographic decline - Decrease in the population due to lower birth rates.

Child-rearing - The process of raising children and providing them with care and education.

Work-life balance - The ability to effectively manage one’s time and resources between work and personal life.

Single-parent household - A household with only one parent living with their children.

Dual-income - Refers to households where there are two incomes 

Generational gap - Differences of opinions, habits, and practices observed between generations.

Family planning - The practice of controlling the number of children in a family and the intervals between their births.

Population policy - Government strategies designed to shape the size and structure of a country's population.

Parental leave - Time off from work that parents are allowed for the birth or adoption of a child.

Economic burden - The financial strain experienced by individuals or families.

Cultural shift - Significant changes in the ways a society functions, often over a short period.

Aging society - A demographic trend where the median age of a country's population rises.

Social fabric - The fundamental structure of society, made up of varied essential relationships.

Graying population - A term used to describe an increasing proportion of elderly in the population.

Healthcare infrastructure - The physical and organizational structures needed for the delivery of healthcare services.

Public sentiment - The general feeling, opinion, or attitude of the public about a specific issue.

Cost of childcare - The expenses involved in taking care of children, including babysitting, educational activities, etc.

Youth disillusionment - A sense of disappointment among young people about their prospects.

Maternal instinct - Natural tendency of mothers to care for their children.

Social integration - The process by which newcomers or minorities are incorporated into the social structure.

Career advancement - Progression through a career path, often achieving higher status, responsibilities, and pay.

Child welfare - The well-being of children and the assurance of their needs being met.

Social norms - Accepted behaviors that an individual is expected to conform to in a particular group.

Quality of life - The general well-being of individuals and societies, outlining negative and positive features of life.

Career-oriented - Focusing primarily on career advancement rather than personal life aspects.

Migration trends - Movements of people from one area to another, often for the purpose of settling temporarily or permanently.

Educational attainment - The highest level of education that an individual has completed.

Personal fulfillment - Achieving fulfillment through personal effort, skill, or ability.

Economic incentives - Financial motivations for people to take certain actions, like starting a family.