The Great Recession's baby bust: By the numbers

The U.S. birth rate fell 8 percent between 2007 and 2011, dropping 6 percent among women born in the U.S. and a whopping 14 percent among foreign-born women. The reason, of course, can be traced back to the Great Recession. Financial instability has caused many families to think seriously before adding more mouths to feed. And while this has practical resonance, it could also spell trouble for future generations. Fewer youngsters means fewer tax-payers to support social programs like Social Security and Medicare down the road. Moreover, smaller families tend to rely on these programs most heavily. Aging expert Ted Fishman says, “A low birth rate could be a recipe for mass poverty and isolation.”