The best pronatalist policy isn’t economic. It’s Usha Vance’s wardrobe
July 7, 2026
Babies are contagious. Yes, often in the literal sense, in that they always seem to have one bug or another. But also, that they can spread baby fever at the drop of a hat. Encountering babies has a way of making one consider taking the plunge and becoming a parent, or becoming a parent again.
New research from the Institute for Family Studies backs up that anecdotal observation, highlighting just how susceptible to influence human beings are. The institute’s new research indicates that the decision to become a parent isn’t principally shaped by economics or government policy, but instead by what people see others are doing — and by whether they imagine they’ll have help when it’s their turn.
