Not Yet or Never? Economic Constraints, Not Lifestyle Preferences, Are the Main Perceived Barrier for Adults Still Open to Parenthood

In one sentence

Contrary to popular accounts, among currently childless adults who remain open to having children, economic concerns matter far more than lifestyle autonomy.

Summary

We conduct AI-led, open-ended interviews with 1,074 childless adults in Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. We find that autonomy is the dominant reason people permanently settle against parenthood, while financial security (or the lack thereof) best explains why people who, in principle, remain open to parenthood, currently, choose not to have children. This distinction has important implications for policy as it suggests that economic constraints are central at the childbearing margin, thereby redirecting attention towards cost-reducing measures.

Research topics