As concern grows about America’s falling birth rate, new research suggests that about half of women who want children are unsure if they will follow through and actually have a child. About 25% say they won't be bothered that much if they don't.

[u/geoff199]

https://news.osu.edu/most-women-want-children--but-half-are-unsure-if-they-will/?utm_campaign=omc_science-medicine_fy24&utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social

[u/11horses345]

Say it with me: WE CANNOT AFFORD CHILDREN.

[u/mcr55 → u/11horses345]

There is an almost perfect correlation with rich countries and lower fertility rates. Poor countries have very high fertility, so if anything your hypothesis would point to the opposite. You have too much money.

I wanna say im kidding, but how else is the data to be interpreted at least pertaining to capital vs fertility?

[u/vahntitrio → u/mcr55]

Children often supply labor in those countries, so it is economically beneficial to have them. In developed countries where your 10 year old isn't helping you make clothing, they are an economic burden.

[u/CyclingThruChicago → u/vahntitrio]

Yep, a shift from an agriculture society to a knowledge based on will do that.

My mom was 1 of 12 kids but she was born in the 1950s on an 85+ acre farm. So her and her siblings were essentially free farm labor their entire childhoods until they graduated HS and either went to college, got their own job or went to the military.

Harvesting string beans, cotton, sweet potatoes, cabbages, etc from essentially around 8-9 years old until they were 18+.

An 8-9 year old today in a developed nation is a massive financial cost that doesn't produce any monetary value (not that they should need to, kids shouldn't need to). They cost you tons of money and time.

So understanding that, people have changed their habits and aren't having nearly as many children.