health
Are big families the solution to declining fertility?
“Big families are like waterbed stores,” comedian and father of five Jim Gaffigan jokes. “They used to be everywhere, and now they’re just weird.”
TL;DR
- U.S. fertility rates have declined significantly, reaching the lowest point since the 1970s.
- A growing trend shows an increase in births within larger families in the U.S.
- Kazakhstan saw a fertility rate increase attributed to growth in big families, supported by government incentives.
- Proposed solutions for the U.S. include tax breaks and benefits for third and subsequent children.
- Doubts exist about whether financial incentives can influence the decision to have more children, with some arguing it's a private and sacred choice.
- The iPhone has been suggested as a factor accelerating U.S. fertility declines since 2007.