636. Why Aren’t We Having More Babies?

In this episode of Freakonomics Radio, Stephen Dubner explores the declining global fertility rate and its economic and societal implications. The episode features interviews with Catherine Pakaluk, an economics professor and mother of 14, who discusses her research on women with large families and the motivations behind their choices, and Matthias Doepke, an economist who explains the economic factors influencing fertility rates, such as increased opportunities for women, the rising cost of raising children, and the impact of government policies. The discussion also touches on historical perspectives on fertility, the challenges of predicting population trends, and the need for more research into reproductive health. The episode concludes by examining potential policy solutions and the importance of individual household decision-making in addressing the fertility decline.