Is the collapse of birth rates men's fault?

The global decline in birth rates, with many countries falling below the demographic threshold for population replacement, may be linked to men's unequal share of domestic labor and childcare, according to Nobel laureate economist Claudia Goldin.

Goldin, who won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, presents a preliminary research paper suggesting that men's continued failure to take on a proportionate amount of household work and child-rearing responsibilities forces women into a difficult choice. They must often prioritize either their professional ambitions or starting a family.

This explanation offers a different perspective on the complex issue of declining fertility rates. Previous theories have pointed to factors such as the rise of smartphones and social media, the high cost of childcare, and increased existential anxiety. Goldin's research shifts the focus onto gender dynamics within the household and their impact on women's career trajectories and reproductive decisions.