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Having children is a very multi-factor decision, so I doubt anyone forgoes for just that one reason, and a pretty impersonal one at that. Still, it has to factor in, even at a subconscious level for those who go childless or have fewer children.

Actually I'd argue that you can see this in action in birth rates right now in the USA and across most of the developed world. Having children is expensive. The standards for care and education keep getting higher. The available time for childcare is decreasing. It takes more and more education to be a fully participating adult member of society. That's a clear market signal to have less children and people are responding. The birthrate continues to fall and is below replacement in many countries, including the USA.

As a species, we appear to be regulating ourselves to prevent a catastrophic overshoot.




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