Commentary on Political Economy

Sunday 9 January 2022

 The pope wants me to have a baby in this economy? No, thanks.


Pope Francis had some stern words for parts of the global population last week. Speaking to a general audience at the Vatican, he said that having pets instead of children was “a form of selfishness” and “takes away our humanity.”

Ouch I’d argue that doting on a fur baby rather than an infant is far from selfish.​ Humanity and morals aside, the pope would do better than to rhetorically kick puppies. There are solid economic reasons for the decline of birthrates across the world, and they need addressing.


This isn’t a new trend​ — the world has been entering what the pope called a​ “demographic winter” for years now. Despite optimistic predictions for a pandemic baby boom, the U.S. last year recorded the lowest rate of population growth since it began gathering data. The year from July 2020 to July 2021, only 392,665 people were added to the population, growth of barely 0.1%. That’s the first time since 1937 that the population grew by fewer than 1 million people. Tyler Cowen calls it one of the “most worrisome economic statistics of a year that was full of them,” and for good reason. Not only is a graying population economically unfavorable, but it has effects on the national mood, too.



Meanwhile, pet ownership has been increasing, especially among younger generations. The American Pet Products Association’s annual survey revealed that millennials are now the biggest cohort of pet owners in the U.S. In the U.K., the​ Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association found that​ 59%​ of new owners since the start of the pandemic are ages​ 16 to 34.

While it’s clear from the chart above that there was definitely a pandemic​ pet boom, household formation among millennials and Gen Z will likely keep the trend going. A 2021 AlphaWise survey revealed that 65% of 18- to 34-year-old Americans​ plan to acquire or add a pet in the next five years, driving a predicted​ 14% increase in pet ownership by 2030.

And young pet owners are more likely to dote on their animals as if they were children. Owners are even treating their dogs to Christmas advent calendars​ and spa days, explains​ Andrea Felsted. Not even inflation is putting a damper​ on how we treat these​ important members of the family.

Though more young couples are welcoming pets into their home, that doesn’t mean children won’t be welcomed later. Survey data suggest that there is a growing cohort of people who are choosing to go childless (and good for them!), but a majority of young people do want children in the future.

So why are children being delayed? As this Morning Consult survey revealed, money is the top​ reason for millennials being childless, followed by the other key ingredient to starting a family: a willing and appropriate partner.

Millennials face many economic hurdlesthat​ older generatio­ns didn’t: high leve­ls of student debt, out-of-reach real es­tate values and care­er instability. As Chris Bryant explains, the pandemic has only served to exacerbate matters.​ Plus, now inflati­on is set to make the cost of living, and therefore raising a child, more expens­ive. One look at the average cost of rai­sing a child, and it­’s no surprise coupl­es are delaying expa­nding their families until they feel more financially stable, or opting for a dog instead. Pets aren­’t cheap, but they’re less expensive​ th­an nourishing a grow­ing human being.​



I am currently​ the age my mother was wh­en she had me. But although I​ live with my​ long-term partn­er and have a stable job, neither of us​ feel​ financially secure enough to bring a new​ person into the world at this point in our lives. In comparison,​ adopt­ing a canine or feli­ne friend​ into our family feels much mo­re achievable. I know many other couples who feel the same way —​ their families have started, but not ended, with a p


The decision to have a child or not is intensely personal, and no one should feel forced into a deci­sion either way (by friends, family or the pope!). 



Millennials face many economic hurdles that​ older generations didn’t: high levels of student debt, out-of-reach real estate values and career instability. As Chris Bryant explains, the pandemic has only served to exacerbate matters.​ Plus, now inflation is set to make the cost of living, and therefore raising a child, more expensive. One look at the average cost of raising a child, and it’s no surprise couples are delaying expanding their families until they feel more financially stable, or opting for a dog instead. Pets aren’t cheap, but they’re less expensive​ than nourishing a growing human being.​



I am currently​ the age my mother was when she had me. But although I​ live with my​ long-term partner and have a stable job, neither of us​ feel​ financially secure enough to bring a new​ person into the world at this point in our lives. In comparison,​ adopting a canine or feline friend​ into our family feels much more achievable. I know many other couples who feel the same way —​ their families have started, but not ended, with a pet.


The decision to have a child or not is intensely personal, and no one should feel forced into a decision either way (by friends, family or the pope!). Rather than condemning the childless pet owners of the world as selfish, perhaps more could be done to tackle the reasons why the people who do​ want children​ are delaying doing so.


Plus, no matter how the pope feels, people appear​ to be moving on from pet adoptions anyway as we leave the worst of the pandemic lockdowns behind.






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