[bhpm]

Zoning restrictions on dense housing, car focussed sub/urban development, ignoring climate change, rampant low interest spending, and here we are. The middle class has no public infrastructure to fall back on. Transit is broken and not suitable for the aging population. Rents are rising faster than wages. Is it any wonder the birth rate is dropping?

[thayne]

After traveling in Europe with a young child, I concluded that a dearth of places for children to play outside, due to high population density, and the prevalence of public transit that is not well suited for young children, especially if you are trying to wrangle more than one, is a contributing factor to the low birthrates there.

[nyokodo]

> Is it any wonder the birth rate is dropping?

If you’re referring to the USA, and if all these things are as severe and hopeless as you say then how do you explain that the birth rate has been rising slightly for the last few years?

[silverquiet]

How much is slightly? And the radioactive question - among which population are births concentrated? Isn't it usually recent immigrants who have the most?

[0xdde]

What numbers are you looking at? There was a further decrease in the rate when COVID began, then a slight rebound from those depressed levels. The decline continued this year. Small fluctuations don't contradict a general trend.

[bhpm]

People were stuck inside, didn’t have money and sex is free. US has been below replacement rate since 2008, one blip isn’t going to rescue us.

[fransje26]

> how do you explain that the birth rate has been rising slightly for the last few years?

Let's see. Restricted access to sex education? Restricted access to family planning? Restricted access to abortion clinics?

[xyzelement]

Preposterous claim. The US is well below replacement fertility. It seems like people have zero problems finding ways to not have kids.