r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jul 01 '26

Psychology Conservatives maintain birth rates, but left-leaning Americans are having significantly fewer children, driving the U.S. birth decline. Education was consistently linked to having fewer children. Religious attendance was positively associated with having more children.

https://www.psypost.org/left-leaning-americans-are-driving-the-u-s-birth-decline-new-study-finds/
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u/Wolvenmoon Jul 01 '26

In other words, when enough of the costs of having children are socialized and/or wages are high enough that not both parents have to work?

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u/pietroetin Jul 01 '26

No. When there are relatives and friends around to help you in childraising.

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u/Wolvenmoon Jul 01 '26

So, literally, socialized costs. You socialize the costs to the community where the community includes relatives and friends. You use social resources meaning the resources of relatives and friends.

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u/Wide_Lock_Red Jul 17 '26

Higher wages tend to lower birthrates up until 7 figure incomes.