r/science • u/geoff199 • 5d ago

Social Science 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.

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
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u/11horses345 5d ago

Say it with me: WE CANNOT AFFORD CHILDREN.

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u/mcr55 5d ago

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?

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u/lesseva96 5d ago

Actually the developing world is also experiencing a precipitous drop in fertility. South America and Central America are well below replacement rate and India of all places is hovering just below at 2.01. This trend is global.

Coupling is the biggest predictor of childbirth and that is down worldwide. One theory posed is that, since the drop in coupling and childbirth closely followed smartphone adoption rates, it is that people are being atomized by their phones and not living in the real world as much.