The WSJ has an article about the childbirth rate in Italy that seems to have mysteriously gone back under the paywall. Oh, well. The title and the subtitle basically tell the whole story. 25% of Italian women are childless. The job situation is tough. Most women live at home until they are 30. And there is no organized daycare. Grandparents usually watch kids, but they can’t do it any more. So, no kids.

This causes problems for conservatives who get angry at poor, American women for having kids, when they can’t pay the rent. These Italian women are behaving logically. During a tough economy and in a country without social supports, they have decided to not reproduce. Perhaps “no kids” is the new family values.

I’m reading All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood — highly recommend.