Both conservatives and progressives typically presume that falling fertility is due to a shift in women’s preferences.

Conservatives often lay blame on “over-educated women”, privileging their careers. Progressives, meanwhile, emphasise women’s burdens. Since men and the state provide so little support, motherhood is an unbearable hit (Doepke et al 2022).

Right and left both assume that men would love to have more kids, but fertility is being dragged down by women.

Is that assumption correct?