

The push for an American baby boom
14 snips Jun 26, 2025
Melissa Carney, an economics professor and director at the Aspen Economic Strategy Group, alongside Karen Benjamin Guzzo, a sociologist and director at the Carolina Population Center, explore the pressing issue of declining U.S. birth rates. They discuss the cultural and economic implications of low fertility and consider the proposed $5,000 baby bonus as a solution. The conversation dives into the complexities of family planning, societal expectations, and how modern financial pressures affect the decision to have children, highlighting the need for more supportive policies.
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Personal Parenting Challenges
- Alexis Watts and her husband are facing tough decisions about having children amid financial and emotional concerns.
- Alexis worries about costs, changing diapers, and the uncertainty of the future as barriers to parenthood.
Consequences of Low Birth Rate
- U.S. birth rates have been dropping since 2007, with fertility rates now below replacement level.
- This decline threatens workforce size, economic dynamism, and social welfare systems like Social Security.
Focus on Desired Fertility
- Increasing birth rates is about enabling people to have the number of children they desire, not urging larger families.
- Policymakers should explore how to remove barriers that stop people from having their ideal family size.