It Turns Out
  • Home
  • Episodes
    Season 1 28 All Episodes 29
  • Reviews
    All Reviews Leave a Review
    Rate on Apple Podcasts podcast player icon Rate on Apple Podcasts
    Rate on Spotify podcast player icon Rate on Spotify
  • Videos
  • Search
Apple Podcasts Spotify All Players
Follow
Apple Podcasts podcast player icon Apple Podcasts Spotify podcast player icon Spotify All Players
Search

Why the “Fertility Collapse” Isn’t What You Think

Is the US fertility rate really "collapsing," or are we just returning to normal? Should we have more babies to support Social Security and Medicare? Notre Dame economist Kasey Buckles explains why the data isn't what you think, and why - often - neither are the solutions.

In this episode of "It Turns Out," Kara Miller sits down with Buckles to break down why America’s birth rate hit a record low in 2025. While President Trump has considered $5,000 "baby bonuses," Buckles explains why these incentives rarely work.

Plus, could increasing political divisions between men and women actually slow family formation? And which segments of society are most likely to say they aren’t having the number of children they want?

FOLLOW "IT TURNS OUT":
Subscribe for more deep dives into the research shaping our world.
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/it-turns-out/id1849543452
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4pEUKWtVCxiI2rJM5xdooN?si=9265a622918a44ab&nd=1&dlsi=e60a097b19764f0e

#FertilityRate #Economics #SocialSecurity #KaseyBuckles #Demographics #ItTurnsOut #BirthRate #USPolitics

It Turns Out

"It Turns Out" reveals the hidden realities reshaping our world—from how marriage impacts inequality to the way that the tax code has transformed wealth.

Through conversations with experts who challenge conventional wisdom, award-winning journalist Kara Miller focuses each episode on groundbreaking research, changing how listeners see society, economics, technology, and human behavior. “It Turns Out” delves into data that directly impacts your life—whether you know it or not.

You can reach us at info@itturnsoutshow.com

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This work was done under Grant No. G-2025-79141.

  • Episodes
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • © 2026 It Turns Out
  • Podcast Website by Podpage