California’s fertility rate is near historic lows. Politicians keep proposing pro-family policies—but what if none of them actually work?
In this episode, I talk with policy researcher and fellow Californian Noah Johnson about the hard truths behind declining birthrates. Why aren’t paid family leave, baby bonuses, and daycare subsidies moving the needle? What can California learn from other countries—and where is our state uniquely falling short?
We also explore the cultural and economic reasons behind shrinking families, the rise of black-market daycare, and why California cities are losing their grip on the next generation of parents.
Topics include:
– Why family policy doesn’t increase fertility
– California’s broken daycare and licensing system
– How parenting shapes civic engagement
– Why implementation is as important as ideas
– The cultural costs of childless cities
– Paid Family Leave in California: what’s working, what’s broken
Chapters
00:00 – Intro
02:23 – The State of Global Fertility
07:21 – Implications of Low Fertility Rates
10:30 – California-Specific Challenges
15:51 – Cultural Norms and Their Impact on Family Size
19:11 – The Societal Implications of Fewer Children
23:00 – What Makes People Leave CA
27:45 – Paid Family Leave: Successes and Challenges
34:53 – Easy Fixes to California’s Policies
46:40 – Hope for California’s Future
Newsletter: https://californiafuturesociety.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVNumolJuKvqJScBEnhe8hQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0zzVSVdCUCTGuZUyl8qZXA
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/california-future-society/id1807612672
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/California-Future-Society/dp/B0F4B2LVGJ
Keywords: California fertility rate, fertility crisis, family policies, parenting, childcare, childcare regulation California, paid family leave California, California governance, population decline, declining birthrates, demographics, cost of living, urban policy podcast, black market daycare, why people aren’t having kids, societal implications, cultural collapse, Noah Johnson, California Future Society, YIMBY movement California, family policy USA, urban families, California politics, affordable housing, implementation challenges, community engagement