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Catherine Benjamin Guzzo is a University of North Carolina sociologist who runs the Carolina Population Center.

Catherine Benjamin Guzzo is a University of North Carolina sociologist who runs the Carolina Population Center.

Catherine Benjamin Guzzo is a University of North Carolina sociologist who runs the Carolina Population Center.

The United States has low fertility right now. Up until the Great Recession, we were sort of humming along right around two kids per person.

The United States has low fertility right now. Up until the Great Recession, we were sort of humming along right around two kids per person.

The United States has low fertility right now. Up until the Great Recession, we were sort of humming along right around two kids per person.

Then birth rates began to fall, partly because the U.S. succeeded in reducing teen and unintended births. America was actually a couple decades late to the declining fertility trend. It's something that's been happening at different rates all over the world.

Then birth rates began to fall, partly because the U.S. succeeded in reducing teen and unintended births. America was actually a couple decades late to the declining fertility trend. It's something that's been happening at different rates all over the world.

Then birth rates began to fall, partly because the U.S. succeeded in reducing teen and unintended births. America was actually a couple decades late to the declining fertility trend. It's something that's been happening at different rates all over the world.

And this is true in Italy and it's true in Japan and it's true in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. India has a below replacement fertility rate in some parts.

And this is true in Italy and it's true in Japan and it's true in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. India has a below replacement fertility rate in some parts.

And this is true in Italy and it's true in Japan and it's true in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. India has a below replacement fertility rate in some parts.

The theories about why this is happening are pretty complicated. But there's also another trend emerging. We're used to thinking of richer, more educated people having fewer children than the poor and working class. Recent research shows that tendency has actually started to reverse in many countries, including the U.S. Guzzo says surveys show most people want kids.

The theories about why this is happening are pretty complicated. But there's also another trend emerging. We're used to thinking of richer, more educated people having fewer children than the poor and working class. Recent research shows that tendency has actually started to reverse in many countries, including the U.S. Guzzo says surveys show most people want kids.

The theories about why this is happening are pretty complicated. But there's also another trend emerging. We're used to thinking of richer, more educated people having fewer children than the poor and working class. Recent research shows that tendency has actually started to reverse in many countries, including the U.S. Guzzo says surveys show most people want kids.

But nowadays, in this very competitive world, they have a vision of what being a good parent means. A stable home, income, a partner, hope about the future.

But nowadays, in this very competitive world, they have a vision of what being a good parent means. A stable home, income, a partner, hope about the future.

But nowadays, in this very competitive world, they have a vision of what being a good parent means. A stable home, income, a partner, hope about the future.

People are not being irrational and selfish when they're deciding not to have children. People are making a series of decisions to not have a child now, maybe in the future. And then that keeps happening because we aren't giving people the societal supports to meet their visions of having a good parent.

People are not being irrational and selfish when they're deciding not to have children. People are making a series of decisions to not have a child now, maybe in the future. And then that keeps happening because we aren't giving people the societal supports to meet their visions of having a good parent.