> no amount of incentives changes the fact that having a kid is a sacrifice My thought here is that the types of incentive(s) matter more than the amount. > I

> no amount of incentives changes the fact that having a kid is a sacrifice My thought here is that the types of incentive(s) matter more than the amount. > I'd argue as nationalism rises in the rich European countries this study profiled, so too do you see birth rates slightly rise This to me simply describes another type of incentive (albeit an incredibly challenging one to implement intentionally or well). It may be more abstract/fuzzy/undefinable but that's still what it is. This example brings to mind concepts of culture, community, a stronger sense of social trust, and an expectation of support/assistance more aligned with the parents' values in raising a child. Now, all we have to do is come up with a form of 'nationalism' which works nearly anywhere but has fewer downsides... which is, of course, a difficult and unsolved problem.