[muzani]

This seems to be the case in many richer countries, typically the ones where birth rates are low. It's ironic that once a nation becomes wealthy enough, children are a luxury.

The part about marriage may be a product of culture. A married couple is meant to be a single unit, not two individuals on the same team, who have to compromise on what direction they're going.

It's quite different in a developing country. My kids were born in private hospitals, go to private school, and I pay health insurance for them. I spend on the high end on kids and the cost is still less than I spend on "office equipment".

I guess back on topic, my not to do list would be moving to places like the US, Japan, or Germany, where raising kids would be unaffordable.