Sooooo, what you're saying is that a significant number of families are currently together for economic rather than emotional / social reasons? I (a) find that

Sooooo, what you're saying is that a significant number of families are currently together for economic rather than emotional / social reasons? I (a) find that somewhat difficult to believe and (b) find that somewhat troubling if true. (disclaimer: I'm in a love-filled marriage and my partner and I have decided to have no children) Honestly, I'd rather see families split up, if by "split up" you mean "find independence from someone with whom you do not want to spend your life". There's levels here- children are a responsibility that someone needs to shoulder (and emphatically not just Mom), but if the alternative right now is being trapped economically in an emotionally traumatic relationship, that's not good either.