want to massage the GDP figures and population figures thru' external means and not understanding the natural cycle of life & death?
biology 101:
growth cycle is dependent on the amount of natural resources within the system. outgrow the natural amount of resources, we'll see a plateau and the decline. the way the PAP is flooding the country with adult FTs/PRs, we'll see a faster drive towards the Grey nation.
you want the population to reproduce? keep the standards of living AFFORDABLE and CONDUCIVE. stress will keep the rate of population renewal low. the reasons why Singaporeans ain't producing, simple, HDB flats ain't affordable, costs of living is too high, stress level too high, who in the right frame of mind would dare bring his/her child into such stressful environment?
social darwinism coming into play, if the population deem the environment too undesirable, they will not reproduce, they can choose to move away, or be forced into the lower rungs of the society.
always constantly remind oneself, humans ain't economic digits, they are social animals