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Entry: Yes, It's Early Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/yes_its_early#7180 Post contents: @David You forget to factor some elements of the equation. Having children is a long time investment. Very long time, and in the meantime it is costly. We have an economy that depends on consumption, of quite useless baubles in too many cases. Listen to comments about "consumer confidence" which means, are people buying enough stuff they may not need to keep the economy going? (First the pundits bemoan the lack of savings, then the lack of consumer confidence, as if there was an infinite number of money to be spent in both). Since raising children is an expensive undertaking, it is an incentive to save, not spend - which is bad for the economy. Then, rasiing children is a drain on the energy and effort which could be put towards more "productive" endeavors. Having children: Good for the long run, ruinous for the short. Society likes the end result of properly raised childrne, i.e. productive adults, but shrinks at the idea of sharing costs during the pre-productive years. Think about it. Think how an economy that discourages saving will discourage any endeavor that takes time. Think how long it takes to raise a child properly. I did not recall advocating any Government effort to solve it, but you know, when no other solution offers itself, the Government is the problem solver of last resort. Better than nothing. Sent at: 2008 09 08