Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture Economics and the Fertility Gap (with Clara Piano)
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Aug 13, 2025 Clara Piano, a Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Mississippi, delves into the global decline in fertility rates and its implications on society. She discusses how marriage is vital to child-rearing and examines economic factors influencing fertility decisions. The conversation challenges overpopulation myths, advocating for viewing individuals as resources for growth. Clara highlights the struggles young people face in forming families today, emphasizing the importance of supportive values and environments for thriving marriages.
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Fertility As A Rational Cost–Benefit Choice
- Economists model fertility choices as rational tradeoffs of perceived benefits versus costs, not moral judgments.
- This lens helps identify which costs drive decisions so policies can target real barriers to having children.
Opportunity Costs Lower Early Childbearing
- Young adults now face many more opportunity costs at childbearing ages due to education, careers, and leisure options.
- That abundance of alternatives reduces early family formation and interacts with marriage market frictions to lower fertility.
People Are An Economic Resource, Not The Problem
- Fears of overpopulation reflect old debates and have led to harmful policies in the past.
- Economists emphasize that people often produce innovations that expand resources, so population fears can misread human creativity.
