> But it doesn’t explain why people have to delay children so long, which likely does reduce overall fertility rates. I think it's much the same reason. When

> But it doesn’t explain why people have to delay children so long, which likely does reduce overall fertility rates. I think it's much the same reason. When children are viewed as a giant economic and lifestyle cost, a lot of people will delay until they feel more ready. As things like good family housing become proportionally more expensive, it makes sense that people will want to wait until they feel more financially established in their careers and lives that they're comfortable taking on that kind of debt. And on the lifestyle front, there's more than ever that DINKs (dual-income no-kids) folks can spend their ample money and free time on, making having kids an even larger perceived opportunity cost. Why have kids in your 20s when you can't afford a house and can spend your time as a couple traveling or whatever when you can have kids in your 30s instead when you feel like you can better afford it and are maybe ready to settle down, or so the thinking goes for a lot of folks.