The Radical Cultural Shift Behind America's Declining Birth Rate
Plain English with Derek Thompson
00:00
The Complexity of Millennial Fertility Decisions
Financial concerns are a significant factor in why millennials are hesitant to have children, but it is not the sole reason. International comparisons show that even countries with robust social welfare systems struggle with low birth rates. Despite investing in social programs like cash incentives and universal childcare, birth rates are not increasing as expected. Many people are not just having fewer children than desired but are opting to have no children at all, creating a 'fertility gap'. While programs like universal childcare and child tax credits are beneficial, they do not address the underlying reasons for people's ambivalence towards having children.
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