New Paper Explores the Complex Factors Behind Declining Fertility
July 16, 2025
Fertility rates have fallen off a cliff throughout the developed world, including here in the United States. But why, exactly?
In a new working paper published through the National Bureau of Economic Research, Melissa S. Kearney and Phillip B. Levine review the basic facts and the most popular theories. They contend there’s been a “broad reordering of adult priorities with parenthood occupying a diminished role,” which in turn likely stems from a “a complex mix of changing norms, evolving economic opportunities and constraints, and broader social and cultural forces.”
