Why Government Can’t Engineer a Baby Boom

Nations across the globe are scrambling to reverse collapsing birth rates, but they’re unlikely to accomplish this through policy intervention alone. Sub-replacement fertility is rooted in a cultural shift that has embraced a false narrative—too often viewing another child as a burden or impediment rather than a gift and source of meaning. Reversing demographic decline is not to be found in policy but rather in re-imagining children as the supreme manifestation of the common good. Dr. Stephen Barrows has more.Guest InfoDr. Stephen Barrows is the Chief Operating Officer for the Acton Institute. He previously served as the Executive Vice President, Provost and Dean of Faculty of Aquinas College, where he was also a tenured associate professor of economics. Dr. Barrows also served 21 years in the Air Force as an acquisition officer, an economics professor at the United States Air Force Academy and a faculty mentor at the National Military Academy of Afghanistan. He retired from the Air Force in 2013, holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit avemariapm.substack.com