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Total fertility rates fell to previously unseen levels in a large number of countries beginning in the early 1990s. The persistence of TFRs below 1.3 raised the possibility of rapid population aging and decline. We discuss the recent widespread turnaround in so-called lowest-low-fertility countries in Europe and East Asia. The number of countries with TFRs below 1.3 fell from 21 in 2003 to five in 2008. Moreover, the upturn in the TFR was not confined to lowest-fertility countries, but affected the whole developed world. We explore the demographic explanations for the recent rise in TFRs stemming from fertility timing effects as well as economic, policy, and social factors. Although the current economic downturn may suppress TFRs in the short run, we conclude that formerly lowest-low-fertility countries will continue to see increases in fertility as the transitory effects of shifts to later childbearing become less important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do Europeans manage differently from the Japanese or North Americans? These authors think so, and they back up that claim after extensive interviews with fifty-two top executives from some of western Europe's major "blue chip" firms. Clearly, the answer to this question is of prime interest to Europeans in search of identity, but it is also useful to U.S. and Japanese managers seeking to develop their European operations. See what you think. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the population trends and demographic differences affecting the social and economic conditions of the world. Regional shift in world population; Consequences of differential rates of population growth at the sub-regional level; Reasons for the smaller and older populations of Japan and all countries of Europe; Reliance of many developed countries on international migration to compensate for modest population growth.

The article presents information about the book "Turning Point: An End to the Growth Paradigm." The book presents some misgivings about economic growth as currently defined and measured, especially about world trade as an instrument for achieving it. It discusses possible and impossible futures: demographic, technological and economic drivers of change: the coming economic crisis of the West; Russia, China, India and Islam as wild cards; relationships among technology, progress and economic growth; how to explain job losses in Europe, the United States and Japan; whether economic growth is really beneficial to the average American, European or Japanese citizen today; equity, poverty and the coming social crisis.