[Afforess]

Desire for children is above the replacement rate, though.

There is a gap between the world we live in and the world desired. One solution would be to close the gap.

[lmm]

> Desire for children is above the replacement rate, though.

Among whom? Evidently not among the women who would actually be bearing them.

[AngryData]

Why do you say evidently not? I have multiple friends who would love to have children, but can't fathom managing to fulfill the monetary costs to do so. They don't make enough money to send them all to childcare all the time, but quitting their job to take care of the kids will cut their income in half and make saving any reasonable amount of money for retirement near impossible.

[mym1990]

Many still have the desire, but today have the choice to walk away from that desire in order to pursue a career, or to just live life in a different way. Some also have the desire but have trouble conceiving, or don't have the means to support a child. The gap is definitely there.

[littlestymaar]

Why do you think this is “evident”? I don't know worldwide but in France at least, French women would like to have more kids than they have.