Sociological data refutes the argument that welfare drives non-marital births. Rates of non-marital childbearing rose most sharply in the 1970s and 80s when the real value of welfare payments was already declining. Furthermore, rates did not fall after the major 1996 welfare reform, undermining the theory.

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Elite women promote anti-relationship views as a "luxury belief," conferring status on themselves while harming less affluent women, who data shows experience greater declines in fertility and happiness when they forgo marriage and family.

Beyond stated morals, a pro-life stance can be an unconscious mating strategy. By making abortion less accessible, it raises the consequences of casual sex, which disincentivizes promiscuity and helps secure investment from male partners in long-term relationships.

The decline in the US marriage rate is driven more by age at first marriage than by a rejection of the institution. While the percentage of people who will ever marry has only slightly decreased, the average time a person spends married in their lifetime is much lower because they are marrying later than ever before.

Contrary to the common belief that divorce rates are at an all-time high, they actually peaked around 1980 when roughly half of all marriages ended in divorce. Since that peak, the rate has been on a steady, multi-decade decline and is now considerably lower.

As women gain more economic power and education, they often choose to have fewer or no children. This global trend is reversing previous fears of a 'population bomb,' creating a new challenge for nations struggling to maintain population growth and support an aging populace.

Raising the minimum wage often benefits individuals in higher-income households (e.g., teens with summer jobs) rather than the poorest families. The most vulnerable are often not in work. A more generous welfare state that directly provides money to poor households is a more targeted and effective way to reduce poverty and inequality.

The introduction of no-fault divorce laws was a legislative response to already-spiking divorce rates that were overwhelming the court system, rather than the cause of the increase. Data from states like California shows divorce rates were already rising before the law was changed and simply continued on the same trajectory afterward.

Sociological data reveals a "marriage benefit imbalance" where married men become healthier and wealthier, while married women decline on these metrics by a nearly equal measure. This reflects a societal pattern where women are conditioned to transfer their life force to others.

In a clear signal of its pro-natalist policy, the Chinese government is ending a 33-year tax exemption on contraceptives while simultaneously making matchmaking services tax-free. This carrot-and-stick approach aims to socially engineer a higher birth rate to combat its demographic crisis.

A recent drop in female labor participation isn't due to women quitting jobs for family. Instead, a surge in post-COVID weddings has led to a mini baby boom, increasing the total population of new mothers and thus lowering the overall workforce participation rate.

Welfare Policy Has Minimal Impact on Non-Marital Birth Rates | RiffOn