The birth rate decline in the UK since 2013 is not due to millennials’ selfishness but the byproduct of hardships such as austerity measures, increased rents, and housing shortages.

If the chattering classes of Europe need a cautionary tale, they can look further afield than Japan. Michael Deacon’s recent column casts a dire portrait using a simple formula: fewer babies in Japan equals societal collapse, and by that logic, Britain’s increasing childlessness threatens to do the same. But this logic is flawed at its core, and to assume British millennials’ choices stem from mere selfishness is to misunderstand the situation entirely.

In a nutshell, comparing Japan’s stark demographic challenges with Britain’s situation is apples to oranges. Japan faces distinct cultural and economic headwinds. Historically, Japan’s workforce thrived on stable employment, enjoying consistent benefits and job security until retirement. A seismic shift has occurred: about 40% of Japan’s workforce navigates a precarious landscape of temporary and part-time jobs sans benefits. From 1995 to 2008, the count of these ‘regular’ workers dwindled by 3.8 million, while ‘irregular’ workers surged by 7.6 million. Thus, overlaying Japan’s distinct labour and demographic trends onto Britain oversimplifies the narrative.

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