We have the same trend in Hong Kong, where it was estimated in 2014 to cost $700,000 (USD) to raise a kid [1].

I've several married friends (all Hong Kong locals) chose to have pets over kids, and that's also my preference - except I don't want to have pets either.

By the way, there are 150 mainland Chinese migrating to Hong Kong, daily [2]. That means "original" Hong Kongers will be rare eventually.

[1]: https://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/09/04/want-to-raise...

[2]: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/08/15/41000-one-way-permit-h...

Same in Finland, and from what I've heard, in most of the developed world. Many young people simply don't want to get kids, and there's probably a demographic crisis looming over the horizon. Migration will probably be used to keep increasing the population initially, but at some point we will run out of immigrants.

The way I see it, there are two ways out:

1) We accept that the population cannot keep growing forever, and prepare ourselves for a society where older people are going to be increasingly common.

2) We coerce, or force young people start breeding. I don't really know how that could be done without massive human rights violations.

There is, of course, the idea of vat-grown children, but that seems somewhat far-fetched.

I think this ought to be the default. If you don't have children, consider not having any children. If you do have children, consider not having any more. Let's pool our resources and try to give the best opportunities for the children in our communities rather than everyone trying to have children.

No, I'm not being funny or sarcastic. Humans pollute a lot. Also for the 99%, it doesn't so much matter if the world GDP continues to skyrocket. As long as we can keep productivity going up (no idea how), the 99% should be ok.

No, I'm not talking about a ban on having children or a lottery system or a qualification/licensing (at least not yet). If voluntary restraint works (and so far it looks like it), there won't be any need for coercive action.

Hardly an Asian only thing. When I lived in Vancouver, I was frequently noticing that some people were spending more money and affection on their pets than on their own children.

Seeing that made me rather uncomfortable, and contributed to my doubt of the West.

Isn't that out of pure convenience? It's just convenient not to have kids and adapt your lifestyle, because entire economy is parasitic on people having kids. Families with kids have to spend a lot more than those without (cost to parent), kids become workers and tax payers (benefit to economy). I know that in some countries there are measures to counter this imbalance, but they are a rarity.

This seems to happen in developed countries where having kids is no longer necessary to ensure one's own well-being after retirement. It might also have something to do with common lack of self-appreciation, when proud parents see their children as better versions of themselves and other people don't want any...

Christ that seems so sad. I know I'm projecting from my life, and having kids, and all that, but holy shit.

Plus the world is going to shit. How do you justify having a child who could expect to live to about 2100 when there’s no clear guarantee that the earth will be inhabitable then?

(n.b. Of course I hope I’m wrong, and I’m doing what I can to make sure I am, buti it is a truly monstrous challenge.)