One issue I see with the current debate: people are comparing e.g. Italy to Sweden. Then if you're Bryan Caplan you call for housing reform, and if you're a mor

One issue I see with the current debate: people are comparing e.g. Italy to Sweden. Then if you're Bryan Caplan you call for housing reform, and if you're a more typical academic you call for parenting leave and other Scandi social welfare policies. Sure, Italy has fertility of 1.27. But Norway has fertility of 1.53! Comparing these is like comparing two ends of the Titanic. One end is sinking underwater. The other is relatively higher. But it will be underwater too a few hours later. 1.27 augurs rapid population collapse. 1.53 augurs slightly slower population collapse. If you think far-below-replacement fertility is bad, then Scandinavia does not have the solution.