Towards a nuanced view and response to global fertility trends

Concerns regarding fertility and population dynamics are not new1 and will undoubtedly continue. Central to these concerns are unanswered questions regarding the implications of changing population age structures, and how to reconcile declining fertility rates with ongoing growth of the global population due to demographic momentum. Debates linger regarding whether these changes pose a substantial threat to humanity, or are simply adaptive, self-limiting phenomena.2 These uncertainties lead to questions regarding whether and how governments should act to influence human reproduction.