> The best predictor of this that I can think of is whether someone's parents both expect grandchildren to appear eventually and are willing to provide support

> The best predictor of this that I can think of is whether someone's parents both expect grandchildren to appear eventually and are willing to provide support - be it by helping finance real estate or participating in care for the infant. I think this is a good insight. I don't agree with your other comments that one can draw up a rational "pros vs cons" list to weigh the merits of reproducing and inevitably find it's a bad deal. It's ultimately a question of what gives you joy in life. We are now in an era where people who do not want to reproduce can choose not to without being celibate. Over time, this will select for a population more full of people who value children and will choose to have them. And, to your point, it will select for people will also choose to help their own children do the same. Essentially, strong selection pressure is currently being exerted (at least in developed societies) which selects specifically for people who innately want children. And that apparently also correlates strongly with other beliefs, like religiosity and traditional views.