Brian interviews Lyman Stone, a demographer who discusses the global decline in fertility rates and the relationship between fertility and religion. Lyman explains that religious people tend to have more children and provide more support to other parents in their community. However, he also notes that fertility rates are declining among both religious and secular people. Stone emphasizes the importance of community and social support in influencing fertility decisions. He suggests that religious institutions can play a role in supporting higher fertility rates by encouraging and assisting families, as well as promoting the benefits of having children. He also highlights the need for further research on the impact of housing and marriage policies on fertility rates. Brian and Lyman also discuss the practical implications of public policy related to family formation and expansion.

This conversation explores a wide range of factors that may be impacting fertility rates and family planning choices from economics to social norms to technology. This is an important topic but one full on nuiance and ongoing research, with evolving trends still to be fully understood. This episode is not designed to answer all the questions but rather, add to the conversation in your community with the addition of a perspective you may not have heard before.

To learn more about Lyman and his research:

• Bio Website: https://sites.google.com/view/lymanstone/home
• Lyman's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyman-stone-9668141a
• X: https://twitter.com/lymanstoneky

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