# You should have more kids — for purely selfish reasons

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/you-should-have-more-kids-for-purely-selfish-reasons/
- Published: 2026-11-15T17:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T17:21:54+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/15/opinion/you-should-have-more-kids-for-purely-selfish-reasons/
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Caplan says having children can bring personal enjoyment.
- He argues modern parenting demands too much time and effort.
- US fertility is 1.6 children per woman, below replacement level.

## Summary

Bryan Caplan argues that people should consider having more children for their own enjoyment as well as for society’s needs. A new edition of his book says modern parenting has become more demanding than necessary, adding to the costs and effort that can discourage people from starting or enlarging families.

The article cites falling birth rates: US women have an average of 1.6 children, below the 2.1 needed to maintain population, while China’s rate is 1.0. Caplan points to research on twins raised apart to argue that genetics matter more than many intensive parenting practices to adult outcomes, and says ageing populations face labour shortages and rising pension and healthcare costs.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.