You’re a young adult in a relationship. Maybe you’re married. Maybe you don’t want to be.
But you’re still thinking about buying a house. You each have or want a car. And there are student loans. Then, do you want the thing that often comes next? Kids?
Based on current trends, probably not.
Birthrates in Nevada have been declining for decades. After peaking in 1990, they’ve fallen to 55 births per 1,000 women in 2021. That’s lower than the national average. And this week, WalletHub ranked Nevada as one of the bottom seven states to have a baby.
Many people seem to agree. Online, you’ll find this abbreviation celebrated by young couples. It’s DINK, and it stands for Dual Income, No Kids.
So, is that what it’s all about — the rising cost of everything as wages don’t keep up? Or is it also the fact that this country and the world seems incapable of working together to slow global warming?
And if you think having fewer kids is actually good for Nevada — there’s an economic flipside to it, as fewer people mean fewer sales taxes, which Nevada relies heavily on to pay for cops, firefighters, teachers and more.
Guests: Christie Batson, associate professor of sociology, UNLV; Tabitha Johnson, licensed marriage and family therapist, Marathon Counseling and First Med Health and Wellness Center; Daenne Dolce, member, Vegas Young Professional Council, Leadership Foundation of Greater Las Vegas
