More Taiwanese Choose Pets Over Babies in Cost-of-Living Crisis

A study by the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research finds fewer young people want to have children and are instead choosing pets as companions.

Transcript

00:00 More and more prams are visible on Taipei streets.

00:04 But on closer inspection, it's pets in the carriers and not babies.

00:09 According to a study by the Taiwanese Institute of Economic Research,

00:23 less young people are wanting to start a family.

00:26 But despite the soaring cost of living,

00:28 the number of registered dogs and cats reached over 2 million last year,

00:32 outpacing the number of babies being born.

00:35 And those who have pets say it's easier and cheaper than having a child.

00:53 Raising a kitten doesn't mean it will cry or make a fuss.

00:58 It won't cause any social problems in the future.

01:01 It will just be a quiet place to be.

01:07 We need some psychological support.

01:10 The institute's study predicts the number of pets in Taiwan

01:14 could exceed the number of children by 2027,

01:17 a concern for the country which has one of the lowest birth rates in the world.

01:21 To try and curb an ageing population crisis,

01:25 the government has even offered subsidies to entice people to marry and have kids.

01:30 During the recent campaign, billionaire presidential candidate Terry Gou

01:34 went as far as promising a pet to expected parents for every child they have.

01:49 But the scheme didn't land well with voters,

01:52 who criticised him for being out of touch with the pressures parents face with a newborn.

01:57 So instead, they're spending their hard-earned dollars on their furry friends.

02:01 It's good news for the country's booming pet industry,

02:04 with Taiwanese decking their pets out with the latest accessories, clothing

02:08 and treating them to gourmet meals.

02:10 And for the pets now, a substitute for children,

02:13 life as a single fur child is positively pampered.

02:17 Yixin Chen and Rosie Grenadier for Taiwan Plus.

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