This 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 co

This 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.