Working Paper2026
Not Yet or Never? Deliberation State and the Reasons for Childlessness
Working Paper
In one sentence
To sway currently childless adults to have children, addressing economic concerns is key; contrary to popular accounts, lifestyle autonomy considerations are less relevant.
Summary
We conduct AI-led, open-ended interviews with 1,074 childless adults in Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. Lifestyle autonomy is the key reason against having children among respondents who have (permanently) settled against children. Among respondents who remain open to parenthood, cost considerations are the key barrier.