3 ms·
Children are expensive and time-consuming, because in our society we're expected to take care of them, and the standard for that is very high. In developing cou
by ShannonAlther 9y ago
Children are expensive and time-consuming, because in our society we're expected to take care of them, and the standard for that is very high. In developing countries, the standard is much lower and children are able to help run the household, so they're incentivized to have more children. As the things that make a country 'developed' spread in developing countries, the equation starts to tip the other way...
- danielbarla 9y agoThis is definitely the line of rationalisation I'd use to explain the trend. The person replying to me wasn't entirely wrong in questioning whether it would continue, however. E.g. I can certainly envision post-work economies, where the "penalty" of having multiple children is much lower, as they are essentially guaranteed a good life. I wonder which direction society's value system would evolve in that scenario.