What happens when fewer people choose to have children? | The Ethical Life podcast

Scott Rada
Jun 3, 2026
Jun 3, 2026
0

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

kAmkDEC@?8mtA:D@56 achik^DEC@?8m u@C >@DE @7 9F>2? 9:DE@CJ[ DE2CE:?8 2 72>:=J H2D D66? 2D 2 ?@C>2= A2CE @7 25F=E9@@5] %@52J[ E92E 2DDF>AE:@? :D 492?8:?8] p4C@DD E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 >F49 @7 E96 H@C=5[ k2 E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A@542DED]2AA=6]4@>^FD^A@542DE^E96\8=@32=\76CE:=:EJ\4C:D:D\:D\H@CD6\E92?\J@F\E9:?<^:5`dhccf`_abn:l`___fefhbg`daQm3:CE9C2E6D 2C6 72==:?8k^2m[ 72>:=J D:K6D 2C6 D9C:?<:?8[ 2?5 >@C6 25F=ED 2C6 564:5:?8 E92E A2C6?E9@@5 :D ?@E A2CE @7 E96:C 7FEFC6]k^Am

kAmx? E9:D 6A:D@56[ 9@DED #:492C5 zJE6 2?5 $4@EE #252 6IA=@C6 H92E >2J 36 5C:G:?8 E92E D9:7E 2?5 H92E :E 4@F=5 >62? 7@C D@4:6EJ] pC6 4@?46C?D 23@FE 9@FD:?8 4@DED[ A@=:E:4D[ 4=:>2E6 492?86 2?5 64@?@>:4 F?46CE2:?EJ 42FD:?8 A6@A=6 E@ 56=2J @C 2G@:5 A2C6?E9@@5n ~C :D D@>6E9:?8 566A6C 92AA6?:?8 2D >@56C? =:76 364@>6D >@C6 :?5:G:5F2=:DE:4 2?5 =6DD 46?E6C65 @? 72>:=J 2?5 4@>>F?:EJnk^Am

People are also reading…

Seeking gold: Marion teen to compete in world fly fishing championship
Chilhowie Town Council honors record setting athlete
Saltville takes step toward transforming Hartwood property into gateway
Wellness fair to return to Hungry Mother State Park in Marion
Smyth Animal Rescue's Pet of the Week is fun loving and ready for his next adventure
Smyth County School Board honors Chilhowie businessman
Marion Senior High grad claims top state art award
Smyth County deputy saves man's life
Update: General Assembly approves budget deal
Communities rally to support officer injured in the line of duty
Virginia budget leaders reach 'agreement in principle' for deal
Privacy laws prevent Smyth school board from commenting on parent allegations
Broady to present program to help instill Martin Luther King's clarity, courage
36 Million Small Businesses Are Quietly Fighting the Same Battle
Smyth commissioner hosts drive-through high-mileage recording event

kAm%96 4@?G6CD2E:@? 6I2>:?6D 9@H 2EE:EF56D E@H2C5 49:=5C6? 92G6 6G@=G65 @G6C E96 A2DE 76H 564256D] {2C86 72>:=:6D E92E @?46 D66>65 @C5:?2CJ ?@H @7E6? 2EEC24E 4FC:@D:EJ] !2C6?E9@@5[ @?46 H:56=J 6IA64E65[ :D :?4C62D:?8=J G:6H65 2D @?6 @AE:@? 2>@?8 >2?J] pE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 8C2AA=:?8 H:E9 28:?8 A@AF=2E:@?D[ 564=:?:?8 D49@@= 6?C@==>6?ED 2?5 E96 =@?8\E6C> 67764ED @7 92G:?8 76H6C J@F?8 A6@A=6 E@ DFAA@CE 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D]k^Am

kAm%96 9@DED 5:D4FDD H96E96C >@56C? D@4:6E:6D 92G6 364@>6 =6DD H6=4@>:?8 E@ 72>:=:6D[ ?@E E9C@F89 9@DE:=:EJ 3FE E9C@F89 2 8C@H:?8 6>A92D:D @? 4@?G6?:6?46[ :?56A6?56?46 2?5 A6CD@?2= 7F=7:==>6?E] %96J 2=D@ 4@?D:56C E96 C@=6 @7 AF3=:4 A@=:4J[ :?4=F5:?8 49:=542C6 DF3D:5:6D 2?5 A2:5 72>:=J =62G6[ 2?5 H96E96C 8@G6C?>6?E AC@8C2>D 42? >62?:?87F==J :?7=F6?46 72>:=J 7@C>2E:@? @C :7 E96 :DDF6 :D F=E:>2E6=J 4F=EFC2=]k^Am

kAmp=@?8 E96 H2J[ E96J C67=64E @? E96 492==6?86D 2?5 C6H2C5D @7 C2:D:?8 49:=5C6?[ E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 :?E6C86?6C2E:@?2= 4@??64E:@?D 2?5 E96 H2JD 72>:=J =:76 42? 3C@256? A6CDA64E:G6D 36J@?5 @FC @H? :>>65:2E6 :?E6C6DED]k^Am

Scott Rada is a digital strategist with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is also the author of "Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way)." This article was prepared with the help of AI technology using information collected and verified by journalists.