| > Modern American middle class norms are that babies cost a fortune. > The best nutrition, daycare, early childhood learning, classes, tuition, etc. Extreme expenses. Daytime childcare isn’t really optional in the first few years. Our system assumes both parents will work. In many metro areas childcare alone can take close to half of a median household income, and daycares are even pretty notoriously low-margin businesses. Moving somewhere cheaper is possible, but that often means fewer job opportunities and lower earning potential. The result is a tough set of choices for Americans looking to have children: 1) Earn well above the median so childcare costs are manageable (obviously not an option for everyone) 2) Accept a massive drop in your standard of living after having kids, possibly to the point of impoverishment 3) Decide not to have children Maybe that’s the part of the system worth questioning first. EDIT: And yes, I know some countries or municipalities try to address this. No, it’s not the only reason birth rates are low in America. Communal support for childcare is one, but not the only, necessary component of a growing society. |