Boosting Birth Rates

wo articles and a Reddit discussion center on the declining U.S. birth rate, a trend confirmed by the CDC's 2023 data showing a 2% decrease in births from the previous year and a continued drop in overall fertility rates. The Reddit thread reacts to reports that the Trump administration is exploring policies aimed at increasing birth rates, such as a $5,000 baby bonus and prioritizing married or parent applicants for certain federal programs. However, a Reason article argues that these proposed pronatalist policies are unlikely to be effective, citing research and common sense suggesting that large-scale demographic shifts are not significantly influenced by small incentives or programs, and highlighting the high costs of raising children and lack of robust social support as major deterrents. The discussion also touches on the potential for government-funded menstrual cycle education, which some view skeptically given the context of pronatalist goals and concerns about women's reproductive autonomy. Ultimately, the sources present the decline in U.S. births as a factual trend and explore the various complex factors influencing reproductive decisions beyond simple financial incentives or biological knowledge.