You certainly know the concept of externalities, like pollution. If you don't, it's like how fixing your car exhaust brings you very little personal benefits. B

You certainly know the concept of externalities, like pollution. If you don't, it's like how fixing your car exhaust brings you very little personal benefits. But if nobody did, smog would make your life miserable. Kids are just the same - except the other way around! So personally, when I'm old and retired, I plan to depend on the work your kids (and the kids of other people who also generously considered the "continued survival of the human race") while in the meantime maximizing the benefits that come from the freedom of not having kids. You may not like this freeloader spirit, and governments generally encourage people to have kids by various means ("working economy, GDP growth and all that are important after all!). But as it's not illegal to "abstain" from the rat race, I do not care much :)