No, no, it’s about this hedonistic godless culture that’s eating away at our “precious bodily fluids”.
Bah… never expected such a comment here
It doesn't though; its been the consistent finding for many decades that, in the developed world, better economic security and stronger public social support networks predict lower fertility.
Children are a (unreliable, though, so it takes several to have a good chance of success if they are used this way) private old-age & disability support system.
The OP was actually arguing:
> The fundamental issue here is incentives. Raising children is a lot of work and a secular worldview doesn't really provide a strong incentive.
In other words, current youth is too busy with their avocados and lattes to think about breeding (“for the Fatherland” I guess, given the tone.)
Which is a laughable argument, as much as -although opposite in spirit - your own “I breed children so someone will change my diapers someday”.
But by all means, don’t bother having children. You’d make a terrible parent.
Almost all of those countries are also suffering from declining birth rates as secularism increases. Most have much lower birth rates than the US.
You could also look at the minimal long term fertility effects of pro birth legislation [1].
The material factors don't seem to be driving birth rates as much as many people seem to think.
1. https://ifstudies.org/blog/can-uncle-sam-boost-american-fert...
For example, increasing female access to career development probably drops child birth rates. Is that in itself driven by secularisation? I don’t think directly. And indirectly, everything is related.
Lower economic and social stability. Higher fertility rates.
I'm not sure if this is as another commenter points out due to "private old folks care" or due to the sheer survivability. Any species in dangerous environments has more offsprings than in less dangerous environments.
As economic wellbeing and freedom increase, birth rates decline.
“Hedonistic godless culture” seems like a good candidate for the problem, or maybe BPA or phenols or something like that.
1958 was the all time peak year for the ratio of average wage to average rent, people were paying just 22% of the average wage on the average rent. This was also the peak year of the Baby Boom, partly because the rents were so cheap and it was so very easy for an 18 year old male to graduate from high school, get married and get his own place.
In economic ways 1958 might have been the best year ever to be a young male, at least for whites.
My oldest brother was born in 1957. My parents didn’t have health insurance so my dad had to pay cash. The bill was $40. Health insurance was less important when hospital prices were so cheap.
Also, USA had post WWII massive economic boom.
Honestly, why? The religion cures social problems, traditional family with one income and homeschooling are pretty prevalent on HN.