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As a result, many young adults find themselves caught in a paradox: they are earnestly eager to start families but are impeded by economic constraints. The cost of housing, combined with the pressure of dual incomes, has led to postponed or abandoned plans for parenthood.
The Broader Impact and the Political Silence
The decline in birth rates represents a looming demographic crisis with far-reaching social, economic, and political repercussions. An aging population means shrinking workforce numbers, increased healthcare and pension burdens, and a potential decline in national productivity and innovation.