Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids
by Bryan Caplan
An economist reads the twin and adoption studies and concludes that intensive parenting has little long-run effect, so parents should relax, enjoy their children more, and perhaps have another. Cheerful, contrarian and well sourced.
Read it if…
you are exhausted by intensive parenting and want a data-based case for easing up.
Skip it if…
you dislike economists on family life.
Three things you will actually use
- Nature sets more than nurture does.
- Relax; the long-run effects of your effort are small.
- Enjoyment is the parenting outcome you control.
Do this first
Read the chapter on what the twin studies show and cut one activity from the schedule.
Our verdict
A data-based case for easing up.
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