Kearney examines COVID baby bust
Diminished births have long-term consequences
In an interview with Kyl Ryssdal of NPR's Marketplace program, Faculty Associate Melissa Kearney predicts an 8-10 percent decrease in births during the period of the coronavirus outbreak, which could have an impact on the long term labor force. ". . . [Y]ou combine this large bust with the steadily declining rates of births we have in the country, before the pandemic, and you start to worry about what’s going to happen with a shrinking workforce and fewer workers to not only contribute to the country’s productivity, but to support our social insurance programs," Dr. Kearney said.