The reason is that widening replacement-level fertility means population growth is slowing down anyway.

ECONOMIST: Lower fertility is changing the world for the better

But the policy has almost certainly reduced fertility below the level to which it would have fallen anyway.

ECONOMIST: China's family planning

There are countries with extremely low fertility and extremely high levels of innovation (Hong Kong, Singapore), countries with a moderate level of fertility and moderate to high amounts of innovation (United States, Israel), and countries with both low fertility and low levels of innovation (Italy, Greece).

FORBES: Ross Douthat, Demography, and Innovation

France and most of the Nordic countries have embraced such policies and been rewarded with a rise in fertility close to replacement level.

ECONOMIST: Most of the rich world is short of babies

The odd ones out are America and Britain, which both have lots of women at work and fertility rates close to replacement level (with immigration making up the rest).

ECONOMIST: Most of the rich world is short of babies

The 20 countries where fertility is at or below the level needed to sustain the current population include China, Hong Kong, Macao, North Korea, Iran, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Thailand, Armenia, Cyprus, Georgia, Barbados, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Chile.

BBC: NEWS | In Depth | Developing world births 'falling'

As a result, the poor level of awareness, funding and reimbursement of fertility treatments by European governments dramatically limits access to therapy.

ECONOMIST: Spreading freedom

The fertility rate has risen to 1.66, still below the replacement level but higher than the national average.

ECONOMIST: A baby bump courtesy of the taxpayer