What’s Behind the Fall in the U.S. Birth Rate?

The year ending July 1st, 2021 marked the slowest rate of population growth in the history of the United States, with the natural increase — the number of births minus deaths — at 148,000; one-tenth the typical value a decade before. Much of the slowdown stems from the low birth rate. As of 2020 the U.S. birth rate was 55.8 births per 1000 women of childbearing age; a decline of almost 20% from 2007. What’s driving this decline? Melissa Kearney at the University of Maryland discusses her findings on this week’s episode of EconoFact Chats.