According to preliminary figures, Russia has had its first annual population increase in 15 years. In 2009, the population grew by about 15,000 to 25,000 people -- putting the population at more than 141.9 million. Much of the growth is due to a falling death rate and increased migration. But births also rose, with 2.8% more births this year than last year.
The 15-year decline in population was traditionally blamed on emigration, alcoholism, poor health care, and poverty. A higher growth rate in population could translate into higher economic growth. "Low population predictions have been a key factor in economic forecasts which see Russia growing much more slowly over the next 20 years than China, Brazil, and India. US bank Goldman Sachs has said that a change in population forecasts could significantly change the long-term growth projections in Russia." (Full Story)
Sounds like Russians should be thanking all the immigrants that come to their country, and maybe they shouldn't be so xenophobic...
A Pew Research study examined married couples in 2007 (those that are U.S. born and between the ages of 30 and 44) and found that in 53% of marriages the spouses have the same level of education. The percentage is actually similar to what it was in 1970, where 52% of marriages had spouses with the same education level. However, now there's more wives that have more education than their husbands. In 2007, in 28% of marriages the wife had more education; while in 19% the husband did. While in 1970, in 28% of marriages the husband had more education and in 20% of marriages the wife did.
Moreover, women are also making more money (i.e., working more). Men still out-earn women, but the gap is narrowing. In 2007, full-year women workers had a median income of about $33,000 -- which is 71% of men's median income of about $46,000. In 1970, women's earnings were 52% of men's. Men are still the major contributors of household income -- with 78% making the same or more than their wives. But the percentage of women that make more than their husband has more than quadrupled since 1970. In 1970, 4% of husbands had wives with incomes that topped theirs. In 2007, that number is now 22%. That means one out of every five marriages has the wife as the dominant income provider. This trend of women earning more than their husbands is expected to increase due to the economic recession. Labor statistics have shown that women have not lost their jobs at the same rate as men -- more men are losing their jobs. As a result, more women are carrying the economic responsibilities for their families.
"The economic changes comes during a period of great strides in education for women. Among college-educated men, 71% now have college-educated wives, compared to 37% in 1970, the report said. Most married men did not have a working spouse in 1970. Now most do... The trends reflect both the advances that women have made and setbacks experienced by men, with the decline in manufacturing and other male-dominated jobs, experts said."
A co-author of the report concluded, "What's radically changed is that marriage is now a better deal for men. Now when men marry, often their spouse works quite a bit. Often she is better-educated than the guy. [In 1970, men] had higher economic status than married guys, but no longer." (Full Story)
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