Pronatalism, literally meaning pro-birth, is a broad ideological movement driven by concern that the world is no longer producing enough children and that society should do something to fix it. As the number of babies dwindles, the number of workers shrinks with it, creating a myriad of economic, political, and social consequences already being felt in places such as Japan and Italy.
Data shows women are postponing childbearing later into their reproductive years when fertility declines. Western societies have moved away from larger families, which can be attributed to greater access to birth control, lower infant mortality rates, and the prioritisation by women of education and careers.
Some social conservatives blame โdoomerโ narratives about parenting and lament negative stories in the media about raising children. In truth, the picture is more complicated.
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