Question

Which of the following is a direct implication of the view that childbearing is an economic decision?

(a) People will not have additional children unless they can earn a profit from doing so.
(b) Social factors have no effect on childbearing decisions.
(c) Compulsory education will increase fertility because educated children have the potential to earn higher salaries.
(d) Fertility should fall with improved opportunities for women to work in jobs outside the home.

Answer 1

If childbearing is considered an economic decision, the implication is that fertility should decrease with better job opportunities for women. This theory is supported by evidence showing that educational and economic opportunities lead to fewer children. The correct option is d.

Step-by-step explanation:

The view that childbearing is an economic decision suggests that fertility rates are influenced by opportunity costs and the economic circumstances of potential parents. This perspective implies that individuals may choose to have fewer children if the costs—both direct and indirect—of child-rearing increase.

Hence, of the options provided, the direct implication is that fertility should fall with improved opportunities for women to work outside the home (d). This is supported by evidence that with more educational and economic opportunities, advances in gender equality, and greater access to family planning, women tend to have fewer children.

Economic research also indicates that education can lead to lower fertility rates, with educated women in low-income countries having fewer, healthier, and better-educated children. Therefore, investing in girls' education is not only beneficial for individual family planning but also promotes wider economic growth and wellbeing.

Hence, Option d is correct.