> Isn't the correct response to high costs of living to have fewer or no children? The rational response for an individual or a couple is to not have kids. Tha

> Isn't the correct response to high costs of living to have fewer or no children? The rational response for an individual or a couple is to not have kids. That's why we're seeing so many articles about "omg the birthrate!". People aren't having kids, it's too hard. From a nation perspective, however, you will die out as a people if you have negative population growth. Immigration can boost the numbers for a while, but not forever. Especially not if you're also trying to keep the immigrants out as many conservative policies are. So what is there to do? Governments need to make having children easier, if they want more children. If they do not in fact want more children, then all is good. However the current economic policy is based on infinite growth. How are you going to infinitely grow an economy if you aren't producing more consumers?