Question: Does the lowest U.S. birth rate in three decades pose a risk to the economy?

Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates

YES: Unfortunately, California’s birth rate is not positive, however, there are 15 states, including Arizona and Nevada that are both growing and increasing in birth rates. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the U.S. economy will grow 3 percent in each of the next three years. They say it will then slow to 2.3 percent for eight years “due largely to not enough new workers.” That suggests we need more births for the economy.