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I think at this point the better question is: why in the past fertility was so high? and I think the reasons were mainly that people _relied_ on their children
by lz400 1y ago
I think at this point the better question is: why in the past fertility was so high? and I think the reasons were mainly that people _relied_ on their children to grow up and take over the farm and take care of their parents. They were also mortally bored and children are fun. They had them for selfish reasons.
But nowadays? why would you have a child? for a middle class+ family in a developed country, having a child is a 6 figures expense over their lifetime, limits your career, holidays, etc. From a selfish point of view, it doesn't make a lot of sense.
I don't think it's the only explanation but children are, individually, optional so you can, for selfish reasons, do it or not.
- pjc50 1y agoDon't forget that reliable contraception is (with some exceptions) a 20th century invention.
- HDThoreaun 1y ago> why in the past fertility was so high? 1. No birth control 2. Harder to find scary stories of parents being unhappy without the internet 3. Much less entertainment. Sex and kids are substitutes for other forms of entertainment. 4. Kids are a much larger commitment than they used to be. Having 5+ kids is basically unheard of in my area. I agree with the paper, declining birth rates is much more about shifting priorities than any economic factors.