Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 305 Baby Boomers

Baku and the South Caucasus region are important areas for Iranian development. The booming economy has led to rapid industrial growth, with numerous job postings appearing daily in job markets. Currently, construction is underway across Iran, and the imbalance between supply and demand is driving up the cost of construction workers. However, it's estimated that this situation may ease in twenty years, when Iranian children reach adulthood.

In fact, the Iranian government has already taken note of the changes in the birth rate in recent years. According to statistics, in 1855, after Iran began its industrialization, its birth rate was 3.83, the death rate was 2.47, and the natural growth rate was 1.36. Its natural growth rate was only average by European standards; the only notable features were the high birth rate and the high death rate.

Subsequently, Iran accelerated its industrialization process, and its birth rate rose steadily, from 3.83 in 1855 to 4.88 in 1860. The mortality rate, however, only decreased from 2.47 to 2.38 due to insufficient investment in medical facilities at the time. This seemingly small change should not be underestimated; it was a result of Iran's substantial annual investment in healthcare.

This was partly due to changes in individual attitudes. In those years, the economy was booming, and many people were finally able to afford food… There was also government influence behind the scenes. Newspapers and other media outlets heavily promoted the benefits of large families, and religion was used to influence public opinion. Furthermore, abortion was strongly condemned in the media and religious circles, creating the social notion that having more children was advantageous. Therefore, the birth rate remained consistently high.

At this time, the number of newborns has once again reached a new high. This is thanks to the explosive economic growth of Iran in the past two years, and Iran is experiencing a baby boom.

However, high growth has also brought some problems. For example, the prices of food and supplies for infants and young children in Iran are rising rapidly, putting additional financial pressure on many families. Furthermore, the future education and employment of these children are issues that the government will need to address. However, these problems are insignificant compared to the future demographic dividend.

As for the potential overpopulation of Iran in the future, the Great Shah has long had a plan. He wants the sword of Iran to provide enough space for the Iranian people to live. This sword is still being forged, but it will soon surprise the world.

However, the first priority now is to reduce the burden on the families of the newborns. For this purpose, he summoned the Grand Vizier.

"I have met the Shah."

After bowing, Amir looked at Nasser al-Din warily. He was afraid that the Shah might impulsively launch some construction project or military operation again; they were currently preparing in Transoxiana and Vietnam and had no extra money left.

"Grand Vizier, you have arrived." Naser al-Din Shah sat on his jewel-encrusted throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority. "In the last two years, the number of babies in our country has increased considerably; they are flooding into our land like a tidal wave. What suggestions do you have regarding this?"

Amir took a deep breath, his mind racing. He knew that the Shah's ambitions went beyond simply solving the immediate problem; he hoped to use this opportunity to further consolidate his rule and even prepare for future expansion.

"Shah, are you trying to ease the burden of raising babies on families nowadays?"

"That's right, that's what I'm planning."

Nasserdin secretly praised the Grand Vizier for quickly grasping his thinking. "What are your government's plans regarding this?"

Amir quickly recalled the government's recommendations in his mind and said, "Our government believes that to alleviate the burden on these families, we need to address it from two aspects. One is to lower the current prices of food and daily necessities in the market, bringing them back to normal levels. This requires the government to guide more businesses to focus on the market." "That's good."

Seeing Shah's agreement, Amir continued, "We can also provide subsidies to families with multiple children. However, subsidies can only be provided to families with three or more children, which would further boost our country's birth rate."

"So how many years will the government provide subsidies to these families?"

"Currently, three to four years is considered a reasonable figure, which can ensure that babies get through the early, dangerous period. It is estimated that population growth can be even higher. This funding can be partly allocated from oil revenues, and supplemented by raising luxury taxes."

Amir also suggested building more hospitals in major cities such as Baku and Tehran. At the same time, the government should increase investment in rural healthcare facilities to ensure that infants in remote areas also receive basic medical care.

Nasserdin was satisfied with Amir's suggestion, but he was more concerned with how to transform this baby boomer generation into a future strategic advantage. "Amir, you're right, these children are the future of Iran. But they are not just a workforce, they are our warriors."

He stood up, walked to the map on the wall, and traced the vast lands of Central and South Asia with his finger. "Twenty years from now, these children will grow into Iran's sword. We must prepare enough land and resources for them."

Although Iran's military operations in Hanoi and Vietnam have already consumed a great deal of resources, it has no intention of stopping its expansion. "We need more land to feed these children, and land can only be obtained through sword and fire."

Amir sighed inwardly, knowing that the Shah's ambitions far exceeded Iran's current financial capacity. Although oil revenues were substantial, the dual pressures of military expansion and domestic construction had already strained the national treasury.

He cautiously said, "Your Majesty, I am concerned that if we undertake domestic construction and military expansion simultaneously, the treasury may be overwhelmed. Could we concentrate our resources on resolving domestic issues first, and then plan for expansion once the economy is stable?"

Amir also cautioned Shah that rapid expansion could trigger domestic discontent. “While the people support your ambitious plans, an excessive burden could lead to unrest. We need to find a balance between expansion and improving people’s livelihoods.”

Naserdin Shah pondered for a moment, then finally nodded. "You're right, Amir. We can focus our resources on solving domestic problems first, but preparations for military expansion cannot stop. I want to keep Iran's sword sharp at all times, waiting for the right moment to unsheathe it."

He turned to look out the window, where the setting sun cast its golden rays upon the streets of Tehran, and the distant sounds of babies crying and workers clamoring drifted in. "These children are the future of Iran, and my future too. I will create an empire large enough for them."

(End of this chapter)