Nation Urges Citizens to ‘Make Babies’ on Independence Day
For the Geo Quiz, we are looking for an Asian country celebrating its independence Thursday. The place we are focused on, is a small nation in south-east Asia. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in wealth.
It is known as the “Switzerland of Asia.” Its citizens enjoy one of the world’s highest standards of living. That is thanks in part to its booming hi-tech manufacturing and financial services industries.
But this country has a population problem. It has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. The government has offered “baby bonus” tax breaks and paid maternity leaves to help get the birth-rate back up.
And there is a new campaign encouraging locals to do their civic duty Thursday, National Day, by making babies.
Singapore is the answer to the Geo Quiz.
It is celebrating its independence day with parades, fireworks, and an official song and the government is using it as a forum to urge citizens to reverse the country’s shrinking birth rate.
There’s an official National Day song, but this year it’s been eclipsed by a racy ad campaign for Mentos mints that encourages Singaporeans to do their civic duty and make babies.
Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks to Shibani Mahtani, who wrote about the subject in Thursday’s Wall Street Journal.
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