Though analysts see it as a positive forecast, the effect of the high cost of living over the last couple of years has had a significant effect on family planning among young couples. That is, according to a study by MadeintheUSASurrogacy.com, who ran a survey of 3,000 childless couples, asking them how many children they would like to have in the future. The survey revealed that on average, couples would like to have 1.7 children*, which 0.2 lower than the current average of 1.9. While this discrepancy might seem minimal, it signifies a considerable decline when scaled to the national population level.
America Braces for Population Plunge as High Living Costs Curb Family Growth, Finds Study. (msn.com)
Their theory is “high living costs”. A problem with that theory, which they ignore, is that family size is inversely proportional to family income. Poor families have more kids, often a lot more, than families with high incomes.
These are huge population collapses:
1. Delaware: -1.1
2. Alaska: -1.0
3. Idaho: -0.7
4. Nebraska: -0.6
5. Arizona: -0.5
6. Oregon: -0.5
7. Wyoming: -0.5
8. Connecticut: -0.4
9. Tennessee: -0.4
10. Iowa: -0.4
That is how many fewer children couples plan to have. Oregon, whose fertility rate is currently 1.39, might drop to 0.89.
