[throwaway03626]

There are other concerns as well related to cost of living.

Even though we would like people to live outside the cities, cities attract a lot of potential parents. They end up in a situation where they have a long education and start their careers late and don't have the financial capability to get a decent family friendly apartment in the city. Many wait until it's almost too late, and having more than 1 or 2 is definitely not something most wants

The average age of first-time mothers is over 30 years old. A single child may be something the family can handle, but more than 1 or 2 forces the families to move outside the cities to be able to afford a house in addition to hurting the mother's career.

Tldr:

- Cost of living in the cities are too high

- If a second (or third) child forces them to move out of the city, many increasingly choose the cities

- Having more than one child after 30 will have a negative impact on the career as they simply can't work as many hours and has to spend long periods away from work

[vidarh]

I think you can simplify that: Standards rise as living standards rise. People want more both for themselves and their children when they see that as realistic, and opting for fewer children is a way to make that happen.

[throwaway03626]

Yes, I think that covers everything in a concise way.

If we want to go back to a sustainable birth rate, we need a wide range of actions. Some may require to reduce the financial risks, while others require encouraging cultural changes.