Hong Kong’s birth rate is low because raising a child in extreme competition is exhausting

With Hong Kong experiencing a record low fertility rate of 0.9 births per woman, legislators and academics have offered different recommendations to tackle the challenges. Typical solutions include different forms of perks, such as tax cuts, direct subsidies, and cash payouts. But unless these incentives are substantial enough to significantly reduce the costs – and stress – associated with having a child, they are not going to bring more babies.