| Can't speak for other countries, but in the US there is a point where being poorer would almost certainly make it easier to have and raise children than being middle class. Most social benefits in the US (besides entitlements for older people which are, by far, the most costly) are distributed primarily to women with kid(s) and low income. Though it greatly depends on the state, a single mother with low income could expect: * full health insurance through Medicaid * Food subsidies i.e. SNAP, WIC, etc. * Section 8 housing (which can often times be very nice housing in extremely desirable neighborhoods of large cities like DC, NYC, SF). * TANF a.k.a. welfare cash * free tuition / grants / job training through dozens of federal, state, and private programs * free daycare (again through dozens of fed, state, and private programs, often included with job training grants) * public transportation vouchers * down payment and first-home buyer programs. Compare that to the same-aged single or married woman living in the exact same city making $75K. She may literally live next door to the theoretical subsidized woman described above, yet be paying 60% or more of her take-home pay in rent alone. She will be paying hundreds of dollars / month for health insurance and have a $2K deductible to boot. No food or any other subsidies. Add a few hundred dollars / month for her tuition loans, and she has $0 left at the end of the month which means she will (correctly) feel unable to afford a child, especially when child-care will cost her up to $2K / month. But at least her corporate employer will pay for her abortion! |
In your example she's making an absolutely terrible financial decision to spend 60% of her income on housing--rent, no less. And that is apparently inflexible.
I wonder what percentage of children is raised in homes making under $75,000? I would venture a huge majority in America, and approaching 100% when you account for the whole planet.