Summary
Billionaires like Elon Musk are calling for higher birth rates, but their economic policies may make raising children more difficult. Low birth rates are linked to economic challenges like low wages, high living costs, and job instability. These factors make starting and supporting a family tough for many people.
Key Facts
- Elon Musk and other billionaires have expressed a need to increase birth rates.
- Economic issues, such as stagnating wages and rising living costs, contribute to low birth rates.
- Across Europe, real wages have not kept up with the increasing costs of living essentials like housing and childcare.
- The EU's average fertility rate is around 1.4 children per woman, which is below the replacement level needed to maintain population size.
- Rising costs of living make it difficult for young people to buy homes and plan for the future.
- Some business leaders advocate for longer working hours, which conflicts with family planning.
- Economic difficulties, rather than cultural or moral issues, are significant barriers to having more children.
- In wealthy societies, fewer children are born, but this is related to personal economic insecurity rather than overall national wealth.
