Neslihan Çevik, a sociologist, former politician, consultant and non-resident fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia, joined Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss falling fertility rates in Turkey.

Çevik expanded on the ideas she outlined in a recent commentary for the National News, titled “This is what the Muslim world needs to do to boost its birth rate”.

Using examples from Turkey, the Middle East and other regions, Çevik argued marriage norms and expectations play a larger role in determining birth rates than other more commonly cited – and more polarizing – theories.

Also referenced in this talk:

Birth Statistics, 2023 (TurkStat)

Statistics on Child, 2024 (TurkStat)

Dependency and depopulation? Confronting the consequences of a new demographic reality (McKinsey. & Company)

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Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chief

Emily Rice Johnson, Deputy editor

Günsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editor

Ceren Bayar, Parliament correspondent

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