Freakonomics Radio 447. How Much Do We Really Care About Children?
Jan 14, 2021
In this discussion, Melissa Carney, an economics professor at the University of Maryland, and Steve Levitt, an economist at the University of Chicago, dive into the complexities of child safety and family planning. They explore how mandatory car seats may unintentionally lower birth rates and how pandemic pressures are reshaping family dynamics. The guests also question the effectiveness of car seats versus adult seatbelts, revealing surprising data. They highlight the often-overlooked consequences of policies impacting childhood welfare.
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Unmarried Mothers
- Births to unmarried mothers have drastically increased in the U.S. since 1960.
- Over 40% of births are now to unmarried mothers.
Pandemic Baby Bust
- Carney and Levine predict a large baby bust due to the pandemic, possibly half a million fewer births.
- They based this on employment data, recession effects, and the 1918 Spanish flu.
Declining Birth Rates
- The 2019 U.S. fertility rate was at a historic low of 1.7, well below the replacement rate of 2.1.
- Declining birth rates pose demographic and economic challenges.
