Money alone cannot fix birthrateBy Y. Tony YangTaiwan has just set an unwanted global record. However, they assume that the constraint is primarily financial — that if families can afford children, they have them. Taiwan’s work culture still rewards long hours and constant availability. Only a small share of births occur outside of marriage in Taiwan compared with many Western countries. Taiwan does not have a “baby bonus” problem; it has a structural mismatch between modern lives and outdated expectations about work, caregiving and family.

Source: Taipei Times January 22, 2026 16:15 UTC