As birthrates continue to drop around the world, and notably in South Korea, the discussion around pronatalism heats up. South Korea faces a demographic crisis that threatens its existence, prompting a growing contingent of advocates who assert that increased birthrates are essential for national survival. This trend is part of a larger ongoing conversation about what society values, what progressive politics means, and what living in a world with fewer people looks like.
The idea that more mouths is the key to a nation’s prosperity is enjoying a worldwide revival. This notion is much adored by pro-natalist circles. This group has claimed that unless countries greatly raise the rate of births, they will face drastic socio-economic collapse. Venture capitalists Simone and Malcolm Collins have emerged as prominent figures in this movement, advocating for higher birthrates as a cornerstone of progressive politics. They share the conviction that being able to sustain that kind of growth is necessary for a nation’s prosperity and ultimately its existence. It’s critical for the success of progressive agendas.
In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has taken this pronatalist rhetoric a step further. Since 2019, the country has implemented a large tax-break policy addressed income inequality among large families. Later, it modified the policy through an income tax exemption only for mothers with two, then three children. This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to boosting birthrates and addressing demographic challenges.
In the United States, the politics of birthrates have similarly soured. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. secretary of health and human services, recently proposed a shocking conspiracy between vaccines and falling birthrates. Nevertheless, medical professionals have soundly rejected this argument, repeatedly stating that it is not scientifically supported.
“If you are healthy, it’s almost impossible for you to be killed by an infectious disease in modern times.” – Robert F Kennedy Jr
Debate about overt pronatalist policies is currently at a fever pitch within American political circles. Critics say that prioritizing birthrate raises the possibility of neglecting more urgent social-political concerns. Furthermore, Malcolm Collins argues that political ideology is totally genetic, claiming that political persuasion is “40% to 70% heritable.” This view challenges our understandings of how society consumes their values and communicates them between generations.
Elon Musk, perhaps the most influential person in technology and business today, has made it no secret that he is worried about global population trends. He stated on Twitter that “the world’s population is accelerating towards collapse, but few seem to notice or care.” Musk’s comments highlight a public panic over demographic shifts and their implications for American society, writ large.