Let's spend more money on multiculturalism, page-20

each woman has the right to decide for themselves, wouldn't you agree? and women will choose according to their own desires, thinking and ambitions.

most people decide based on their own needs. ask some women who don't have children why they have decided to work rather than have kids.

Young people have watched friends struggle with parenting during lockdowns; they've seen others . They're just some of the factors contributing to a climate of uncertainty, which can impact decisions about starting a family.

"You feel insecure in your employment, you're not sure what the world's going to look like in five years' time, you don't know whether you're going to be able to afford to buy a property [or] will be in expensive short-term rental accommodation," she says.

Concerns such as these take a toll. "When people are thinking about having a family, they tend to really value stability. They want to know that they'll be able to provide for their child in … five, ten years' time," Ms McBain says.

Dr Allen says choosing to have fewer or no children in itself is not problematic.

It's when people are forced into a situation by circumstance that is cause for concern.

LINKed is an excellent discussion on the matter.