International Headlines and Stories

The reproduction is better than output. In this season of activity budgets in 2009, from automobiles to zoos, most areas in the commune down. The numbers of births do not appear as brightest. INSEE has identified 821 000 last year, only 7 400 fewer than in 2008. This decline is described as "negligible" by demographers, not even "the line thickness. Especially that 2008 was a leap year, which was added mechanically 2 000 births, INSEE said.

The economic crisis it have no impact on family plans? "For the moment we receive no effect, confirming France Prioux, a researcher at the INED (National Institute of Demographic Studies). This is not the case in South Korea, which announced a fall of 4.4% of births in 2009."More and more people were delayed or canceled their wedding plans during the recession," he told AFP Kim Dong-hoy, head of population studies. The Land of the Morning Calm, with Singapore and Taiwan, who is experiencing the lowest fertility rates in the world (1.15 children per woman of childbearing age).

In the U.S., it is allowed since last summer that the crisis will lead, as is customary, by a decline in births. Only data for 2008 are known, and they show a decline of almost 2% over 2007 (4 247 000, a record 50 years), according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Across the Atlantic, economic cycles and demographic change strictly in parallel, as evidenced by the four previous recessions (1974, 1981, 1991 and 2001).

This determinism is understandable in societies where birth control is more the rule than the exception.The Ireland still offers a cons-almost perfect example. The country traditionally more pronatalist in Europe – 16.9 newborns per thousand inhabitants per year, against 13 in France and 8.3 in Germany – has suffered the most severe recession in the euro area. Despite a fall of 7.5% of GDP last year's births increased 1%, according to estimates by the Directorate of Health. Explanation of the Central Statistics Office: the baby-boom years of 1980, which followed the entry deDublin in the European Union, have become parents.

The problems of income and unemployment are not always the enemy of babies. Some even see an incentive. Gary Becker, Nobel Laureate 1992 and theoretician of the family economy, showed a woman who loses her job will be available to raise a child.And the "opportunity cost", as economists say – the income to which he must renounce – will be less than if she had voluntarily quit her job. Also in times of crisis, family values are rising and fertility recovered.

Demographers are nevertheless cautious about the resilience of the French birth rate. As the U.S. federal government last year amounted to 291 $ 570 "price" to raise a child to adulthood, our system of family assistance and public benefits makes probably the "investment" less risky for couples. History shows that despite all our demographic has always responded to crises. "The Great Depression of the 1930s had rarefied births, as the oil shock of 1973.The fertility rate (per woman) fell to its lowest level in post-war (1.66) during the economic recession of 1993, "says Ariane Pailhé in the social portrait of France (2009 edition ). Why would it do differently this time?

Let's bracket the explanation, very controversial, which gives dynamism to the French foreign families. False, according to Insee, "The share of children born to foreign parents, which amounted to 6.9% in 2008 has changed little from 1998 (6.6%). The reality is more mundane, as explained Gilles Pison, demographer at INED: "Since the baby boom of the postwar period, there is a fairly high stability of the predisposition of couples to have kids. What has changed is they have more later.Initially, it helped reduce the annual number of births, then do go through a process of catching up. "Thus the fertility rate is 1.66 children pressed in 1993 to nearly 2 today.

Economic Crisis Will it change the "desire for children? Another focal point on youth unemployment. "It could he delay the time when we" settled "and you have children? It is unfortunate that the records of Vital Statistics do not indicate the rank of new-born of each family. For on the number of first births that the crisis could have the greatest consequences, "warns France Prioux. It is unlikely that France soon lose its leadership position population of the European Union.It hosts over 800 000 babies a year when Germany's powerful product in less than 700 000, despite reproductive capacity but much more numerous untapped.

ALSO READ

"Demography: French dynamism is confirmed

"DOCUMENT – The demographic results 2009 (insee.fr)

Osamu Masuko and Philippe Varin has been clear at the motor show in Geneva: the respective presidents of Mitsubishi Motors and Peugeot have refused any alliance capital, which they deemed "inappropriate."

The outcome was expected, since some sources close to the matter had acknowledged that the proposed strategic merger was stalled. The French manufacturer had to be majority stake in its Japanese counterpart.

But the results from Mitsubishi – the Japanese carmaker reported Wednesday a net loss of 25.7 billion yen (195 million euros) over the first nine months of fiscal year 2009-2010 decreased by 29 3% – and the level of recovery action deemed "overvalued" by PSA eventually convince a capital alliance would not be appropriate.Philippe Varin, outside the motor show, said he wanted to maintain "financial strength" of the group.

PSA was confirmed in December of discussions for a "strategic partnership", according to information from the Japanese press that the French group was preparing to buy 30 to 50% stake in Mitsubishi Motors.

Both manufacturers have nevertheless confirmed that they will continue their industrial cooperation, particularly in "the environment and products," said the president of Mitsubishi. In an interview with Echos on Wednesday, the president of PSA has raised the possibility of building with the Japanese automaker a "small car, which is sold under our three brands, like the 4×4 today.

The French automaker announced last February 10 a net loss of 1.161 billion euros in fiscal 2009, more than three times more than the 363 million euro loss a year ago. The turnover amounted to decline from 10.9% to 48.417 billion euros.

Mitusbishi Motors closed up 0.76% at the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 0.31% to 10,253 points.

Europe does not go well and its leaders will be within forty-eight two good opportunities for reflection. Parliament invest on Tuesday afternoon the Barroso Commission II, which takes office in financial turmoil, after a slump for several months. Thursday, the twenty-seven Heads of State and Government of the EU are invited to attend an economic summit "extraordinary", where the urgency of defeating more abstract considerations.

Seen from Brussels, failures and hopes dashed accumulate. The Lisbon Treaty would give a strong voice in the union. Alas, two months since she keeps losing steam.To the disappointment of Copenhagen climate, followed by a painful quarrel projectors in Haiti, was added a final existential doubt: the package of Barack Obama the next transatlantic summit because the U.S. president, they say, better to …

The crisis comes together Greek humiliation. After crossing a recession more severe than elsewhere, Europe was already facing a horizon of sluggish growth, against the United States and of course China. In recent days she has to fight attacks on what she believed to be the sanctuary of serenity: the euro area, torn by fiscal indiscipline South and North trade surpluses.

New Technologies

Reduced to a dilemma – should the EU or not replenish it Athens? – The question is inevitably raised at Thursday's summit in Brussels Same day payday loans