The NY Times Magazine reported this weekend on the struggles of European countries experiencing declining birthrates. To maintain a steady population, a country needs the average woman to bear 2.1 children. But lots of ladies, having delayed motherhood to spend a decade or so working, are not going ahead and having that second child. From an experts cited in the piece: "You might say that in order to promote fertility, your society needs to be generous or flexible. The U.S. isn’t very generous, but it is flexible." So unlike Italy or Greece, we don't have a low birthrate problem, because women can re-enter the job market after taking a few years off to stay home with young 'uns. Does this ring true to your own experience? How did you decide to go for baby #2? Or if you only have one, what could persuade you to do it again?
Posted by sarah on 07/01/2008 - 12:59pm.
