Quote:
Originally Posted by galleyfox
Children are financial assets on a farm and financial liabilities in a city
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not only that, but in our species past, children died ALL. THE. FREAKING. TIME. it was totally normal and expected for children to die.
historically, the long-term average chance of a live-born baby making it to 15 years of age was about 50%.
however, today in the US, >95% of live-born babies make it to age 15.
back in the bad old days it was not at all unreasonable for a family to have 7 - 8 children in the hopes that 3 or 4 of them might survive to adulthood.
these days, in developed nations, the thought of childhood mortality doesn't even factor into family planning.
if you want two kids, you have two kids. nobody makes extra "insurance policy" kids anymore.