4 ms·
> We seem to vary our reproduction rate based on the life expectancy of our offspring I don't think the life expectancy of the offspring is the only factor. Bi
by throwaway4aday 4y ago
> We seem to vary our reproduction rate based on the life expectancy of our offspring
I don't think the life expectancy of the offspring is the only factor. Birth control certainly contributes, education is known to as well, wealth, working status and legal equality of women, and now there seems to be a whole new set of influences on the younger generations. It also doesn't seem to be a finely tuned feedback system, if anything it seems closer to the messy outcome of Universe 25 where reproduction broke down due to poor socialization and rearing and an overabundance of stressors.
- wongarsu 4y agoYou are right that there are certainly countless factors, and it's a messy system. You can clearly see economic troubles suppressing birth numbers, or the introduction of the pill that drove most Western societies to a birth rate below the replacement level. You can also see clear differences caused by politics/ideological systems. But the coupling between birth rate and death rate seems the strongest overall predictor, with the lag between the two driving many population booms. As a consequence, Western nations saw the biggest decline in birth rates in the beginning of the 20th century [1] 1: https://i.imgur.com/jhyvMWX.png https://i.imgur.com/jhyvMWX.png
- shard 4y agoI always thought effects such as environmental chemical pollution (estrogen analogs), overreliance on nighttime lighting / artificial temperature regulation and dietary issues leading to obesity (both previous items reducing fertility), and increasing cost of raising children (leading to higher investment in fewer children) are some of the main factors leading to decreases in birth rate in developed nations.