German voters punish Merkel's conservatives in state votes

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15. Cheap labor wasn't the only reason why Chancellor Merkel allowed immigrants into

Germany. Countries need a birth-rate of 2.1 children per couple in order to keep
the population the same for the future.

Germany's birth-rate has fallen to 1.4 in the past decade. This is an alarming
situation for the nation. For one thing, there are fewer and fewer young people
working to support the older generations. They need a higher birth-rate. And
Germans seem reluctant to have more children. One solution to this problem
is to invite immigrants. Usually immigrants are people on the young side.
Oldsters don't have the energy to make such a move, nor do they have any wish
to adapt to a very different life-style at their age.

Merkel did try. Like many national leaders, she is more popular abroad than at
home.