Interview With Journalist Riccardo Cascioli

ROME, MAY 6, 2006 (Zenit) - To counteract the demographic decline in many developed countries, a cultural change, rather than an economic incentive, is needed to promote family and procreation, says Riccardo Cascioli.

In this interview with us, the president of Italy's European Center of Studies on Population, Environment and Development, comments on the message sent by Benedict XVI to the participants in the 12th plenary assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

Q: According to Eurostat data, no European country has a fertility rate equivalent to zero growth -- 2.1 children per woman. What direction is the demographic dynamic taking in Europe?

Cascioli: In fact, all the countries have fertility rates under the level of generation replacement, though the situations are different if the regions are compared.

Today the countries in which the decline of fertility is the gravest are those of Eastern Europe, with fertility rates of between 1.1 and 1.4 children per woman, but in them the sudden fall is relatively recent and had a sharp acceleration with the collapse of the Soviet empire.

Low also are the fertility rates in Southern Europe, with Spain and Italy, which for some time now have had a rate of between 1.2 and 1.3 children per woman.

Meanwhile, Northern Europe, especially the Scandinavian countries, enjoy relatively higher rates, 1.6 to 1.8, and have not experienced sudden variations, though the decline of the fertility curve began there much earlier than in other European countries.

The highest fertility rates are those of Ireland -- 2, but with a tendency to a rapid diminution -- and France -- 1.9 -- the only country at present that is going in the opposite direction of the general tendency.

In any event, the phenomenon is so consolidated that, in 20 or 25 years, several European countries -- Italy, Germany among the first -- will experience an effective reduction of the population, a phenomenon that already began had it not been masked by the high rate of immigration. But soon, not even this will be enough.

Q: To the low birth rate is added a notable increase in the rate of people over 60. What consequences will this tendency have?

Cascioli: Two factors must be distinguished: First of all, the longevity caused by the improvement in economic, health and hygienic conditions. This is a positive phenomenon which also includes the improvement of the quality of life of the elderly. The imbalance you describe has to do rather with the low birthrate.

This is the real problem: We are witnessing it already in the social security system, with an obvious imbalance between the active population -- that works and hence pays taxes -- and the retired population.

But the negative effects are much greater, especially in the economy: The work force diminishes and the active population ages with consequences on the capacity of innovation and competitiveness. This is the background of the problem that Europe is already paying for, in relation, for example, to the United States, where instead the rate of fertility is greater.

There is also a cultural and social problem that has to do with immigration: Though the latter is necessary to replace the labor force in decline, the rate of immigrants tends to increase rapidly, especially among young people, making more difficult the integration and transmission of the culture of the host country. Often, xenophobia arises as an angry reaction to this situation.

Let's not forget moreover the consequences on security: A nation without children is a nation that does not even have a desire to fight for its own values and freedom -- so much so that it believes it is not worthwhile to transmit them. And, because of this, it prepares to be a land of conquest for emerging civilizations.

Q: From the '60s to the '90s the international community manifested the dangers of a "demographic bomb," while the reality speaks of a "demographic winter." How have fears of overpopulation influenced the culture and behavior of the population, specifically of couples?

Cascioli: They have certainly had an important role because, for decades, we have been subjected to a cultural bombardment so that not to have children seemed to be almost a social responsibility.

Today in fact the spectrum of the depletion of resources continues to be waved irresponsibly to convince couples not to procreate.

There are even theories on the urgency to decrease the world population drastically, so that little by little the way will be opened to the idea that euthanasia may also be used as a method of population control.

Q: Many European countries hope to resolve the low birthrate with financial incentives and increases in the number of ...