Immigration is the necessary solution to falling birthrates that the political right refuses to acknowledge
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/johnharris. "The right is desperate for a solution to falling birthrates. Who’s going to tell them that the answer is immigration? | John Harris | The Guardian." May 31, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
Countries are having fewer babies, which creates big problems like not enough workers to support older people. Right-wing politicians hate immigration but their other solutions don't work, so they'll eventually have to admit they need immigrants to keep their countries running.
Conclusion
Despite their anti-immigration rhetoric, right-wing politicians will be forced to compete for immigrants as the only viable solution to the social and economic problems caused by falling birthrates
Premises
- Falling birthrates are creating serious demographic problems including aging populations, fewer workers supporting more retirees, and increased spending on pensions and healthcare
- Right-wing politicians correctly identify falling birthrates as a major problem but propose ineffective solutions like tax breaks for families
- Evidence shows that financial incentives and pro-natalist policies have little effect on increasing birthrates
- The underlying causes of falling birthrates (housing costs, childcare expenses, economic insecurity, pessimism about the future) are structural features of modern capitalism that are difficult to change
- Countries with falling birthrates will inevitably need immigrant workers to maintain their economies and care for aging populations
- Right-wing voters will personally experience dependence on immigrant workers in care homes and hospitals
- Countries will soon be competing for immigrants rather than trying to exclude them, making current anti-immigration policies counterproductive
Assumptions
- Immigration can effectively compensate for declining native birthrates
- Immigrants will be available and willing to move to countries that previously rejected them
- The demographic crisis will become severe enough to force policy changes
- Right-wing politicians and voters will eventually prioritize economic necessity over ideological opposition to immigration
- Current anti-immigration sentiment is not so deeply rooted that it cannot be overcome by practical necessity