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>sexual fertility You think our government respects people taking time to rear offspring? Of course not! They're not contributing their labour to our economy w

>sexual fertility You think our government respects people taking time to rear offspring? Of course not! They're not contributing their labour to our economy while being parents so we've structured the incentives to start families in such a way that they're driven back to work ASAP. Strictly speaking: having children is bad for our labour force and should be avoided.

Loughla 3y ago
This is the paradox of the child in modern society. In terms of across the board consumption, there is nothing as productive as a modern child. Clothes, consumable goods, travel sports, recreations, hobbies, and diversions all lead straight to the consumption that is so vital to our economy. And yet, with sicknesses, evening activities, and other problems, there is nothing that disrupts an individual worker's productivity as a child. I'm not sure I am smart enough to come up with an equation, but, it's in there somewhere to tell us whether a child is a net positive or negative influence on our Economy than the other.
- bhouston 3y ago
  > there is nothing that disrupts an individual worker's productivity as a child. I have two kids and it isn't that bad at all. Very small loss of productivity for me except when I took parental leave for 3 months. I have grandparents that live nearby and they can help with sickness and other babysitting though.
  - steve_adams_86 3y ago
    I have a feeling a lot of people don’t have that kind of support network. I certainly don’t. If someone’s taking care of my kids, it’s me (or I’m paying them). Just so happened that my family had to move for work, health, etc. I love raising my kids so it’s fine. It has been the equivalent of drop kicking my career against a brick wall occasionally, if I’m being honest.
    - WeylandYutani 3y ago
      My country quite literally needs every able bodied man or woman in the workforce. People with university degrees sitting at home raising kids is almost treason at this point considering it was the government who paid for their education.
      - steve_adams_86 3y ago
        Can I ask which country you’re in? That’s an interesting consideration when education is publicly funded like that. Where I am, it’s a bit of a both… Public money is a major factor up until post secondary school, then it’s part of the picture but there’s also substantial private tuition — especially for international students. I’m not sure anyone considers a duty to their country really, despite how much public money makes their education possible.
      - jdkee 3y ago
        Does your country face a demographic cliff due to a less than replacement fertility rate?
- hgsgm 3y ago
  That's only true under the orthodox economics misconception that consumption (destruction) equals value ("broken windows" theory of value). The best economics can only tell you how to convert value into different units. It can't tell you what value is.
asadm 3y ago
It's this line of short-term thinking that has brought us to population collapse we are just starting to see.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- wesapien 3y ago
  The Common (un)Wealth is on a death spiral. CANZUK, muahs.

Loughla 3y ago

This is the paradox of the child in modern society. In terms of across the board consumption, there is nothing as productive as a modern child. Clothes, consumable goods, travel sports, recreations, hobbies, and diversions all lead straight to the consumption that is so vital to our economy. And yet, with sicknesses, evening activities, and other problems, there is nothing that disrupts an individual worker's productivity as a child. I'm not sure I am smart enough to come up with an equation, but, it's in there somewhere to tell us whether a child is a net positive or negative influence on our Economy than the other.

bhouston 3y ago
> there is nothing that disrupts an individual worker's productivity as a child. I have two kids and it isn't that bad at all. Very small loss of productivity for me except when I took parental leave for 3 months. I have grandparents that live nearby and they can help with sickness and other babysitting though.
- steve_adams_86 3y ago
  I have a feeling a lot of people don’t have that kind of support network. I certainly don’t. If someone’s taking care of my kids, it’s me (or I’m paying them). Just so happened that my family had to move for work, health, etc. I love raising my kids so it’s fine. It has been the equivalent of drop kicking my career against a brick wall occasionally, if I’m being honest.
  - WeylandYutani 3y ago
    My country quite literally needs every able bodied man or woman in the workforce. People with university degrees sitting at home raising kids is almost treason at this point considering it was the government who paid for their education.
    - steve_adams_86 3y ago
      Can I ask which country you’re in? That’s an interesting consideration when education is publicly funded like that. Where I am, it’s a bit of a both… Public money is a major factor up until post secondary school, then it’s part of the picture but there’s also substantial private tuition — especially for international students. I’m not sure anyone considers a duty to their country really, despite how much public money makes their education possible.
    - jdkee 3y ago
      Does your country face a demographic cliff due to a less than replacement fertility rate?
hgsgm 3y ago
That's only true under the orthodox economics misconception that consumption (destruction) equals value ("broken windows" theory of value). The best economics can only tell you how to convert value into different units. It can't tell you what value is.

asadm 3y ago

It's this line of short-term thinking that has brought us to population collapse we are just starting to see.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
wesapien 3y ago
The Common (un)Wealth is on a death spiral. CANZUK, muahs.