Free birth policy could help address U.S. population issue, Catholic author argues
Caroline MolloyImplementing a taxpayer-funded free birth policy in the U.S. would help solve the issue of the country’s decreasing population, a Catholic author recently argued.
“Women and young married couples cite a variety of reasons for having no or fewer children than past generations; the cost associated with pregnancy, delivery, and prenatal care is the rationale for a significant number,” author Kenneth Craycraft wrote for online publication “First Things.”
Citing data from the Center for Disease Control, Craycraft pointed out that the birth rate in the U.S. in 2023 was 1.6 children per woman, the lowest birth rate ever recorded.
“This is less than the 2.1 births per woman required merely to keep pace with deaths. According to the CDC, the rate has been generally below replacement since 1971, and consistently below since 2007,” Craycraft continued, adding that both “infant and maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are alarmingly high in comparison to peer countries.”
He additionally noted that to have a baby in the U.S. costs an average of $19,000, sometimes with families who have good health insurance paying over $5,000 out of pocket.
