The Family Teams Podcast Lessons From Large Families Defying The Collapsing Birth Rate with Dr. Catherine Pakaluk
Feb 13, 2025
Dr. Catherine Pakaluk is an economist and author of "Hannah's Children," focusing on families with five or more children. In this engaging discussion, she explores why some women choose to embrace large families despite declining birth rates. She critiques policy-driven solutions, emphasizing the role of faith and personal agency in family decisions. The conversation touches on the joy of parenting, the healing presence of infants, and how older siblings contribute positively to family dynamics, revealing insights into societal perceptions around motherhood.
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Focus on Outliers
- Studying falling birth rates exclusively through averages is misleading.
- Focus on groups with stable or rising birth rates to understand the factors influencing family size.
Agency and Purpose
- Many large families are not rejecting modernity or forced by patriarchal structures.
- They choose larger families out of agency and a sense of purpose, often rooted in faith.
Broader Family Policy
- Policymakers often rely on financial incentives, like tax credits, to influence birth rates.
- Catherine Pakaluk suggests a broader approach, considering education and religious liberty policies.
