Fertility rates are falling across the rich world, as more and more people are weighing up whether to have children. Raising them can be stressful and cost a fortune, but they might bring you a lot of joy. So all things considered, on International Women's Day, is it worth having kids? #internationalwomensday #iwd2023 00:00 - Is it worth having kids? 00:36 - Do kids make parents happy? 03:12 - Why people used to have more children 04:11 - The expense of having kids 05:24 - Parental leave 08:03 - Childcare 09:42 - The “motherhood penalty” 13:45 - The macroeconomics of children Sign up to The Economist’s daily newsletter: https://econ.st/3QAawvI Why there are so few babies in southern Europe: https://econ.st/3ZuhCWY The glory of grandparents: https://econ.st/3y6xO54 The age of the grandparent has arrived: https://econ.st/3ZgtThX In rich countries, working women and more babies go hand in hand: https://econ.st/41xIx69 Richer societies mean fewer babies. Right?: https://econ.st/3YfeRI5 A new study finds preschool can be detrimental to children: https://econ.st/3KPaxfm How many American children have cut contact with their parents? https://econ.st/3ZwsNOJ Which countries have the most generous child-care policies? https://econ.st/41Bze55 What will Joe Biden’s spending bill do for child care in America? https://econ.st/3ESBfQK How America should spend on child care: https://econ.st/3kHZBFK Even in lockdown, mothers bear the brunt of child care: https://econ.st/3y2C99k The struggle to reduce the “motherhood penalty”: https://econ.st/3y6DUlY The roots of the gender pay gap lie in childhood: https://econ.st/3YbdZnH Parents now spend twice as much time with their children as 50 years ago: https://econ.st/41IjH3l What’s the best age to have a baby? https://econ.st/41B7FJ8