When China tells its banks to lend, they do. Now Beijing wants its citizens to breed as well. China is mulling over a partial roll-back of its one-child policy as concerns about its ageing workforce top yesteryear’s doom-laden Malthusian fears. Several other Asian governments also want their citizens to go forth and multiply.

In Japan, where the total fertility rate is 1.37 children per woman, well below replacement levels, increasing childcare benefits is a key issue in this month’s election campaign. The inclination to breed is even lower in Korea and Hong Kong. There TFRs are running at just over one child per woman, according to the United Nations.