> procreation a luxury
The data actually points in the exact opposite direction. People with the least wealth are the most likely to decide to have more kids.
The data actually points in the exact opposite direction. People with the least wealth are the most likely to decide to have more kids.
The above is a big reason why you often see higher-comp working class wait until the last minute (biologically) to have kids. It’s the only way to accumulate anywhere near enough surplus resources to be able to afford a well-cared-for family without risk of a badly timed flurry of bills putting them out on the street.
By contrast, if you’re poor having children doesn’t change a whole lot financially. You’re living on the edge and struggling either way, regardless of your desires.
This is why if it’s a goal of governments to boost birth rates it should be by making raising a family with a high quality of life less burdensome, not by making the population more poor.
Anecdote: I know a few couples where their financial situation improved when one of the spouses stopped working and started taking care of the kids. The cost of having someone else watching the kids, such as daycare, was more than one of the spouses was bringing in. So they had a choice of being in a more precarious financial situation until the kids could be more independent with both spouses working, or having one spouse give up a long chunk of their career and potentially end up worse off later because they missed on years of advancement.
And of course, if both spouses work a lot, you end up with latchkey kids, which ain't the best situation either.
It's basically not even a question which one we're choosing. I'll keep my quality of life, thanks.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/241530/birth-rate-by-fam...
At a certain level of income you lose access to a lot of resources that the government provides that allows a certain minimum level of care for each child. Food stamps, financial aid, tax breaks, all start to fade away as you make more money.
We're always on our phones and the internet. There's no space left for even entertaining the idea of kids. Cellphones took their place. And capitalism filled the gaps to occupy us with entertainment for any spare moment. (Who knew we needed "escape rooms"?)
Kids were perfect for the farm and nomadic societies. They were essentially free labor to help around the house. They don't fit very well into today's society, where you might just go on a random trip, go partying late at night, or spend your income on your hobby / pet project.
I'm saying all of this both tongue-in-cheek (kids are the future and we need them), but also in earnest. I truly think this is a big driver or component of why people aren't having kids.
I think this, more than cost burden, is the reason. We're too into our own thing to let a young infant have space.
It’s also the reason why wealthier people have fewer kids.
What did they have that the rest of the world didn't?
Or maybe other countries had a similar fertility decline that was masked by other factors. Did you remember to adjust out the effects of immigration (not just immediately, but in subsequent generations)?
Or maybe other countries had a similar fertility decline that was masked by other factors
Or maybe they didn't. You are throwing out nonsensical guesses, I linked you real information.
Did you remember to adjust out the effects of immigration (not just immediately, but in subsequent generations)?
What are you talking about, I linked you a graph of long term statistics. If you have questions about it, click on the link and read.
I think it may have been due to having great entertainment options, of which the things I mentioned are indicative examples.
> I linked you real information.
No, you linked a Japan-specific graph and then asked "What did they have that the rest of the world didn't?". Which is obviously a meaningless question without knowing what you're comparing to.
That's called real information. You are throwing out nonsense with nothing to back it up.
"What did they have that the rest of the world didn't?"
And you thought that bowling and cassette tapes for some reason dropped fertility rates in japan.
Which is obviously a meaningless question without knowing what you're comparing to.
What comparison do you need and why didn't you do it yourself? Japan's fertility as a country started dropping in the 70s and continued on a steady decline. Why did that happen? Your answer? Bowling.
They also mow the yard and help with heavy lifting!
All kidding aside, children are also useful/needed in the later life phase of their parents. I watched my wife visit her Mother everyday for the last ten years of her life.