Louise Perry and I discuss whether, historically, monogamous marriage was affirmative action for men. We get into whether falling marriage rates are causing the fertility collapse, why women’s stated preference to have 2.7 kids translates into only 1.6 children, and the parallels between the historical obligations of childbirth for women and military service for men. Louise makes the case that it all comes down to one thing, and it isn’t the one that most people want to hear.
A striking chart:
