Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids

Contrarian economist Bryan Caplan argues in his new book Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids that we've needlessly turned parenting into an unpleasant chore and don't know the real pluses and minuses of having kids. He says parents today spend more time investing in their kids, but twin and adoption research shows that upbringing is much less important than we imagine, especially in the long-run. Kids aren't like clay that parents mold for life; they're more like flexible plastic that pops back to its original shape once you relax your grip. These revelations are wonderful news for anyone with kids—you can safely relax and enjoy your journey together. Instead of struggling to change your children, you can raise them in the way that feels right for you; they'll still probably turn out just fine. Indeed, as Caplan strikingly argues, modern parents should have more kids—if only to lighten the load on their older children!