The studies cited in the op-ed show many people who want kids aren’t having them due to the cost of living.
That’s not true. The study cited expliciitaly states that:
“… the most influential factors relate to the ideas that children are burdensome, that parenting is intensive and time-consuming, and that women want to finish self-development and exploration before having children. The view that parenting is demanding is a bigger factor for low fertility than is housing or childcare costs.”
The op-ed is not referring to people who don’t want kids…
Fair point, but it is basing the op-ed on a survey that does refer to women who did not want kids, and when you consolidate the data, it’s pretty clear that there’s some reporting bias at play.
Still, to the point, cost of living is not the driving factor to low fertility.