Part 2/8:
According to Stone, the primary issue affecting fertility rates in the West is not merely due to external factors such as expensive housing or societal pressures related to feminism. Instead, he argues, it centers on the phenomenon of individuals marrying later in life.
Statistics indicate that the average age of first marriage has risen significantly over the years, now exceeding 30 years old in many cases. Comparatively, during the baby boom era of the 1950s, individuals married at an average age of just 22. This shift means that many people are missing out on their twenties, which are pivotal years for establishing families and having children.