I tend to view poor people and developing countries having higher reproduction rates as a consequence of less economic slack. That is to say, people who are poorer have more kids because those kids are decent long-term investments overall (ie old-age support, help-around-the-house). In contrast, wealthy people can make way more money by doing things that don’t involve kids.
Kids will grow up and move away no matter if you’re rich or poor though, so I’m not sure the investment explanation makes sense. But your last sentence rings true to me. If someone cares more about career than family, they will always have “no time” for a family. I’ve heard it from well-paid professionals many times: “I’d like to have kids… eventually...”
Kids will grow up and move away no matter if you’re rich or poor though, so I’m not sure the investment explanation makes sense. But your last sentence rings true to me. If someone cares more about career than family, they will always have “no time” for a family. I’ve heard it from well-paid professionals many times: “I’d like to have kids… eventually...”