Family Free-Riders (Childless adults are economic free riders)

Chicago Boyz ^ | March 03, 2006 | Shannon Love

[FreedomSurge]

Economically, every society needs children.

Children are the producers of the future This means that children are in a sense a necessary economic good. A society that does not produce enough children, or that cannot produce enough children who grow into economically productive adults, is doomed to poverty.

Every long-term investment we make, whether in the private or public sector, is predicated on the idea that there will be a future generation which will actually produce a return. It doesn't matter what economic or political system rules the present, it will need children to secure its future. Even the most self-centered individual would eventual realize that if the next generation cannot produce, his own welfare will suffer.

So, collectively we all need children and benefit when they grow into productive adults, but the cost of raising children is increasingly being borne by fewer and fewer in the general population.

Childless adults are rapidly becoming economic free riders on the backs of parents.

In the pre-industrial era, children almost always contributed to the economic success of the family directly. Agriculture depended heavily on the labor of children, and children brought further benefits by extending support networks via marriages. In the industrial era, however, children began to contribute less and less while consuming more and more. Nowadays, children usually return very little if any economic benefit to the parents.

Being a parent costs one economically. Although we socialize some cost, such as education, parents pay most of the cost of raising a child. Parents also lose out in non-monetary ways such as in a loss of flexibility in when and where they work. If an individual sets out to maximize his lifetime income, avoiding having children would be step one.

In our atomized society, children do not provide a boost in status, networking or security that offsets their very real cost. I think this economic loss may explain why many people shy away from having children. Many people simply do not want the loss of status that will come from having their disposable income consumed by rug rats.

Like all free-rider situations, this one will eventually cause a collapse that hurts everyone. As the percentage of parents in the population shrinks, the cost of being a parent will rise. More and more people will be tempted to conserve their own resources and let someone else shoulder the burden of creating the next generation. Eventually, the society will either produce too few children or, probably more likely, will not produce enough children with the skills and habits needed to carry on the economy

There is already grousing in some blue zones by the childless that they shouldn't have to subsidize the "breeders'" children. How long before child-hostile places like San Francisco become the norm?

I'm not sure how to address this problem from a public-policy perspective, but the next time you run into someone bragging because he chose not to have children, call him a parasite and see how it works out.

[Antoninus]

And I would much rather come under His judgment than under yours.

You're right. And you will.

Yours matters not a whit to me.

My opinion has absolutely no binding authority over you. It should only matter to you to the extent that it is consonant with the teachings of Our Lord, assuming you are a believer.

[linda_22003]

By your categorization, I probably do. However, I think making the conscious decision not to have children because of one spouse's complete lack of interest and ability, and the other spouse's background in an insane, broken family, is actually a responsible decision.

[Antoninus]

However, I think making the conscious decision not to have children because of one spouse's complete lack of interest and ability, and the other spouse's background in an insane, broken family, is actually a responsible decision.

If all of us refrained from having children based on our own imperfections, no one would have them. If we have such imperfections, it is our duty to work on improving them, not using them as an excuse for why we can't do things.

[linda_22003]

My husband is in therapy and working on them, thanks, as his brother has been as well. However, at 50, we're not likely working out the kinks in time to reproduce now (especially since I don't even have the necessary equipment any more).

Over the generations, people who never should have had children had them, simply because there was no good way to avoid it. Now we have the technology, and some of us use it to avoid situations we know would be bad. That's the way it goes.

[Antoninus]

However, at 50, we're not likely working out the kinks in time to reproduce now (especially since I don't even have the necessary equipment any more).

It's never too late to adopt.

Over the generations, people who never should have had children had them, simply because there was no good way to avoid it. Now we have the technology, and some of us use it to avoid situations we know would be bad. That's the way it goes.

Beethoven's parents were among those who probably shouldn't have had children...

[linda_22003]

I have no idea. I wouldn't presume to make the Beethovens' personal decisions for them. We made our right decision, and people's ability to do that is not going away.

[steve-b]

Just make sure to thank my children when they're taking care of you in your old age.

You're raising children stupid enough to provide valuable services without being paid for them?

[Allegra]

My opinion has absolutely no binding authority over you.

Phew! You had me worried there. I was about to rush right out and procreate.

So you're granting me my freedom. What a relief!

Do I get to vote, too? OK, yeah, I guess I shouldn't push it.

(Do you have any idea how sanctimonious and pompous you sound?)

[Tijeras_Slim]

I was about to rush right out and procreate.

Please send Slim $20 or he will ping the usual suspects to this generous offer. :)

[Hoodlum91]

Why is this thread still alive?

[Allegra]

ROFL

[Allegra]

Why is this thread still alive?

Because the weirdos like Antoninus and Scourge like to get their butts kicked? They're abuse junkies? Masochists?

Just a guess...

[Antoninus]

I have no idea. I wouldn't presume to make the Beethovens' personal decisions for them.

The fact is, the Beethoven's were not great parents--his dad being an abusive alcoholic. Nonetheless, their child managed to do few noteworthy things in his life.

We made our right decision, and people's ability to do that is not going away.

I'm not arguing that anyone should be coerced to have children. The inividual who wrote this article got that completely wrong.

What I am saying is that a civilization in which a sizable percentage of the people refrain from having children for purely selfish reasons is not a healthy civilization. Once that percentage reaches a certain point, there can be no hope for recovery and that civilization will simply be swept away by those who value and celebrate new life.

If you don't believe me, just watch what happens in Europe over the next 20 years. They are about 20 years ahead of us in terms of personal and civilizational decay and self-loathing.

[Antoninus]

You're raising children stupid enough to provide valuable services without being paid for them?

If need be, yes. I'm not raising little Randian objectivists. I guess if you had kids, you'd name the first one Dagny.

[Antoninus]

So you're granting me my freedom. What a relief!

I can't grant you freedom. Your liberty is a gift from God. Take care not to abuse His trust.

Do I get to vote, too? OK, yeah, I guess I shouldn't push it.

Where have I said otherwise? You do not get to create straw men. Nowhere do I indicate that I agree with the author of this article, except in his opinion that procreation is a good thing and planned sterility is a bad thing.

(Do you have any idea how sanctimonious and pompous you sound?)

The truth sounds that way sometimes to those who are hard of heart.

[RockinRight]

I guess the Prude Squad likes the abuse!!

[RockinRight]

OK, you basically said what I just did!

[Antoninus]

Because the weirdos like Antoninus ... like to get their butts kicked? They're abuse junkies? Masochists?

Straw men and now personal attacks? Where have I been anything but perfectly respectful of you?

[Antoninus]

I guess the Prude Squad likes the abuse!!

How does that make any sense? We encourage people to procreate and somehow, that makes us "prudes"? Or is it that whole "within the bounds of marriage" thing that's got you worked up?

[Allegra]

Where have I been anything but perfectly respectful of you?

Where you've been judgmental.

I'm just laughing at you now. Sorry, but I've just gotten to that point. :-D