Michigan's Births Lowest Since 1944

[313WX]

“Since 2000, the number of babies born in Michigan has plummeted 18 percent, the second-biggest drop in the nation [[after Illinois) and triple the decline in the U.S., according to Bridge Magazine analysis of Census data.

The ramifications can be seen around the state, from closed maternity wards in northern Michigan to sinking school enrollment.

And the implications for the state’s future are sobering, from economic struggles and school closings in northern Michigan where the birth declines are steepest, to challenges filling jobs in a state that is aging and likely to lose population.

“All of our policy thinking assumes [[population) growth, and instead we have stagnation and decline,” said retired University of Michigan demographer Ren Farley. “The fact is, we may have to start managing stagnation and decline.”
https://www.bridgemi.com/children-fa...hs-lowest-1944

[Meddle]

Not enough. The birthrate worldwide needs to drop far more than that.

[mwilbert]

https://www.bridgemi.com/children-fa...hs-lowest-1944

Michigan is one state that could definitely use more immigration. Also, I find it odd that a state with no significant population growth does essentially nothing to limit sprawl, but then complains that it can't keep the roads maintained. [[Michigan has something like half the road mileage of California with about 1/4 the people).

[jcole]

Michigan is one state that could definitely use more immigration. Also, I find it odd that a state with no significant population growth does essentially nothing to limit sprawl, but then complains that it can't keep the roads maintained. [[Michigan has something like half the road mileage of California with about 1/4 the people).

How are they going to address sprawl regarding the roads? SE Michigan, where most of the road issues are, is also the most populated area of the state. And you can't close roads in the Northern part of the state because there aren't that many up there as it is. And the Grand Rapids area is the most up and coming area in the state.

[renf]

In an economically developed economy, population growth tends
to stimulate economic growth. It is troubling that Michigan's population
is stagnant or declining.
The state could promote immigration both from abroad and from other
states. Both Governor Snyder and former U of M president Duderstadt
strongly recommended that anyone graduating from a Michigan college
with a STEM degree be given a Green Card.

[Seven&wyo]

It seems like this is part of the national trend that small towns all over the country are dying and Michigan just had the unique "opportunity" to have our largest city lose a lot of population. I don't see how immigration would help unless they were forced to populate the small towns specifically, which I guess could theoretically happen, but most immigrants are just going to big cities and metro areas anyway. I'd be interested in hearing some ways the US could combat the death of small town and cities

[masterblaster]

Michigan is one state that could definitely use more immigration. Also, I find it odd that a state with no significant population growth does essentially nothing to limit sprawl, but then complains that it can't keep the roads maintained. [[Michigan has something like half the road mileage of California with about 1/4 the people).

A very poignant statement.

Also, I know it was controversial at the time, and Snyder/Trump nixed it, but I would have liked to have seen a good number of Syrian refugees come to the Detroit area. There was some leadership in the Arab-American community who supported it, and there is a former Middle-Eastern enclave around 7 Mile/John R where they could have settled.

[Scottathew]

People choosing to have less kids is a good thing for the world.

[401don]

People choosing to have less kids is a good thing for the world.

That's true if western countries are open to immigration to redistribute populations. On the other hand, if they're not, you could argue that it's important that western countries have enough population to maintain a high standard of living that allows them to redistribute some of their wealth to help 3rd world overpopulated countries.

[jiminnm]

Michigan is one state that could definitely use more immigration. Also, I find it odd that a state with no significant population growth does essentially nothing to limit sprawl, but then complains that it can't keep the roads maintained. [[Michigan has something like half the road mileage of California with about 1/4 the people).

Population isn't the only determinant. Michigan has about 60% of the geographic area as California.

[Meddle]

It seems like this is part of the national trend that small towns all over the country are dying ...

Say "Thank You Sir Walmart, May I have ANOTHER!!"

[O3H]

If someone can barely feed themselves, afford rent, like some
over in Highland Park [[avg. annual incomes less than $15,000),
having new kids by choice is out of the question.

[softailrider]

A very poignant statement.

Also, I know it was controversial at the time, and Snyder/Trump nixed it, but I would have liked to have seen a good number of Syrian refugees come to the Detroit area. There was some leadership in the Arab-American community who supported it, and there is a former Middle-Eastern enclave around 7 Mile/John R where they could have settled.

Settled where? Pitching a tent? Those neighborhoods contain housing that is burned out, vandalized or stripped. There may be a few salvageable houses here or there but there ain’t much left. The Chaldeans moved away a long time ago.

[oladub]

Michigan is one state that could definitely use more immigration. Also, I find it odd that a state with no significant population growth does essentially nothing to limit sprawl, but then complains that it can't keep the roads maintained. [[Michigan has something like half the road mileage of California with about 1/4 the people).

California has a different topography. It is more expensive to build roads in mountains. California's residents are largely huddled in large cities between the ocean and mountains. California's physical and policy induced lack of supply of housing and building land drives up prices. California has expensive land use policies favoring the rich who dole out their restricted building land most profitably.

Middle class Californians work hard often having multiple jobs to afford housing and pay high taxes at the expense of ever being able to afford a family.

It isn't just governments' fault or the connivance of the rich. Americans, as well as resident of other Western nations, have bought into materialism and experiences at the expense of family. Its partly a matter of choice.

Increased immigration is a solution to sustaining otherwise failing social Ponzi schemes as well as sustaining corporate profits. 96% of US population growth is already from immigrants and their children. 17% of the US population is foreign born; the highest percentage in a century.

[Bham1982]

Middle class Californians work hard often having multiple jobs to afford housing and pay high taxes at the expense of ever being able to afford a family.

Except CA has a higher birthrate than MI. And obviously CA benefits from higher property appreciation. Would you rather have owned a home in CA or MI over the last 40 years?

17% of the US population is foreign born; the highest percentage in a century.

Which is ridiculously low for the wealthiest country on the planet. Most of our competitor nations have far higher rates of immigration. We should probably be around 25%-30%.

[O3H]

I live near many Middle Eastern immigrants in the area of Northern Warren, Sterling Heights, Troy, Madison Heights, etc., etc.

Many of the old time European immigrants won't go into their grocery stores, their pastry shops, or their restaurants - HOW is that great ?

We simply DO NOT have a mixing pot - what we have is a bunch of separate pots who are unwilling recognize/respect religions, cultures.
It's sooooo far past the Black/White and I didn't even touch on the Indonesian community which is prevalent in the area.

I absolutely love it - I can get 100's of kinds a food, just a few miles from my doorstep and it is delicious, tasty, and welcome.

[oladub]

Except CA has a higher birthrate than MI. And obviously CA benefits from higher property appreciation. Would you rather have owned a home in CA or MI over the last 40 years?

Which is ridiculously low for the wealthiest country on the planet. Most of our competitor nations have far higher rates of immigration. We should probably be around 25%-30%.

17% isn't a rate of immigration. It's the percentage of immigrants living in the US. You must have missed the part about it being the highest percentage in 100 years.

I've lived in both places. I would rather live in Michigan for a variety of reasons including cheaper housing, lower taxes, and better public schools.

Your are correct about California's birth rate being higher than Michigan's. Michigan's birthrate is 1.91 per woman. California's is 2.2. The higher birthrate in California reflects a higher percentage rate of immigrant children in California relative to Michigan. First generation impoverished immigrants have a higher birthrate. 36% of California births are to immigrants, legal and otherwise, compared with 11% of Michigan births.

[Johnnny5]

Except CA has a higher birthrate than MI. And obviously CA benefits from higher property appreciation. Would you rather have owned a home in CA or MI over the last 40 years?



Which is ridiculously low for the wealthiest country on the planet. Most of our competitor nations have far higher rates of immigration. We should probably be around 25%-30%.

Huh? The United states has more foreign born residents than any other country in this planet, and the percentage rate is at above most European countries and far above that of large competing countries such a China or Japan. The truth is as this recent wave of foreign residents has grown rapidly in the last two decades our standing in the world hasn't increased, it has fallen. With the threat of technology eliminating the need for workers, dwindling resources and a rapidly warming planet we should be thankful that our population isn't rapidly growing. A large population is likley to be quite the disadvantage in the very near future.

[Bham1982]

Huh? The United states has more foreign born residents than any other country in this planet,

This is meaningless. The only more populous countries are China and India, so obviously the U.S. will have the most immigrants. The U.S. accepts roughly half the immigrants of our competitor nations [[proportionally). We should obviously be compared to Germany, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, not dirt-poor third world countries.

and the percentage rate is at above most European countries

Most European countries are comparatively poor. The rich European countries have much higher rates of immigration than the U.S. Yes, obviously the U.S. has more immigrants than Hungary, Albania or Portugal.

and far above that of large competing countries such a China or Japan.

Well, duh. China is poor and Japan is dying.

The truth is as this recent wave of foreign residents has grown rapidly in the last two decades our standing in the world hasn't increased, it has fallen.

The opposite is true. As the U.S. share of immigration has fallen, the U.S. economy has fallen. As Canada, Australia and Germany added more immigrants [[who otherwise would have gone to U.S.) those countries have risen.

With the threat of technology eliminating the need for workers,

Technology creates far more jobs than it destroys. We have a worker shortage.

dwindling resources and a rapidly warming planet we should be thankful that our population isn't rapidly growing.

Immigrants have lower birthrates in the U.S. than in their former countries, so that makes no sense. If you care about "dwindling resources and rapidly warming planet" you would want as many immigrants as possible in the U.S., where affluence drives down nativity.

[ABetterDetroit]

A declining birth rate they say? Go figure.

Michigan has been sending it’s youngest, brightest and most skilled including a majority of its entrepreneurs out of state to work and have opportunities for decades. It should be a surprise to no one.

Continuous systematic failure on creating the conditions for economic growth for the whole population instead of the chosen favorites keeps bearing rotten fruit.

Getting caught up in the National issue of immigration because of problems that have been made in Lansing is a waste of fucking air. Michigan does not set immigration policy. What it does have control over is whether people find the conditions in this state a good place to work and live. At that Lansing has failed miserably for decades.

[Ray1936]

Gotta throw this in. When we moved from Detroit to Las Vegas in 1984, the population was roughly 800,000. Today, 35 years later, the population is 2,300,00. And most of them are ex-Californians. The financial benefits are not necessarily staggering, but certainly very high.

No state income tax; comparative very low property tax rates; good roads and good weather. Come on down!

[Nektye]

Gotta throw this in. When we moved from Detroit to Las Vegas in 1984, the population was roughly 800,000. Today, 35 years later, the population is 2,300,00. And most of them are ex-Californians. The financial benefits are not necessarily staggering, but certainly very high.

No state income tax; comparative very low property tax rates; good roads and good weather. Come on down!

Your resident recruiting on a Detroit forum is surely welcome
We get it, like anyone else that moved to a warmer state, you have to remind people at every given opportunity that the weather is better. Some people actually like northern climates and want to be part of something with a little more character and history than Las Vegas. To each his/her own.

As to the original topic - the easy explanation for the higher birthrate in California is the immigration of lower income groups into the state [[while middle class is hollowed out). Michigan on the other hand is experiencing an influx of higher income transplants while losing lower income residents. Higher income/higher educated people have less children. Yes, there is a brain drain but there are also people who move to the coasts/Chicago/etc for post college jobs and then a few years later transplant back to MI, while having just one or two kids. Compare this to people who stay in an area after high school [[or dont finish high school) and have several kids. Michigan is losing these people because they cannot get a decent job here with high school or less anymore [[e.g. OEM jobs in the 50's/60's). However, these folks can go southwest or southeast and get decent factory or customer service jobs and have a few kids, driving birthrates and population numbers upward in these states.

[O3H]

Immigrants treat their babies better than non-immigrants.
They tend to save more money, take care of their own, etc., etc.

Discuss among yourselves -
""""Immigration is the untold American community revitalization strategy that has worked for generations and is very much a viable strategy in Detroit."""""

https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/city/detroit/

[Bham1982]

As to the original topic - the easy explanation for the higher birthrate in California is the immigration of lower income groups into the state [[while middle class is hollowed out). Michigan on the other hand is experiencing an influx of higher income transplants while losing lower income residents.

That makes zero sense. In fact, the opposite is true. CA is getting richer, and MI is getting [[comparatively) poorer.

CA and MI had basically the same household income 30 years ago. Now CA has a household income that's almost 50% higher.

CA loses poor households and gains rich households. It probably has a higher birthrate, in part, because it has more economically secure households. In short, all things equal, people more confident about the future are more likely to procreate.

[Bham1982]

Immigrants treat their babies better than non-immigrants.
They tend to save more money, take care of their own, etc., etc.

Discuss among yourselves -
""""Immigration is the untold American community revitalization strategy that has worked for generations and is very much a viable strategy in Detroit."""""

https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/city/detroit/

I would go a step further. The only thing that will ever fix Detroit [[proper) is immigration. If you want a truly prosperous region, you need [[far) more immigrants.