The version I've seen in print is that the "established" population of the US (neither immigrants nor children of immigrants) have Europe-like birth rates; the higher birth rate of the US is entirely due to immigrants and their children.
Tis true that the infant mortality rate in the US is higher, and IIRC there's some reason to believe that immigrants have a higher than average infant mortalilty rate, but I've not heard of someone trying to break out the data that way.
In any case, the low birth rates in Europe will gradually reduce their influence in the world (Russia in particular), whereas the US's high GDP per capita and ability and willingness to grow its population will maintain its global influence. (For better and worse...)
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Date: 2010-07-13 03:24 am (UTC)Tis true that the infant mortality rate in the US is higher, and IIRC there's some reason to believe that immigrants have a higher than average infant mortalilty rate, but I've not heard of someone trying to break out the data that way.
In any case, the low birth rates in Europe will gradually reduce their influence in the world (Russia in particular), whereas the US's high GDP per capita and ability and willingness to grow its population will maintain its global influence. (For better and worse...)