Why do people postpone parenthood? Well before being the driver of The Why Wait Agenda, this question underpinned an academic paper published by a group of researchers to present the findings of their study of the causes, consequences and possible solutions of the significant delay in childbearing. Melinda Mills, now Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science of the University of Oxford, was one of those researchers; in this episode of our podcast she discusses with journalist Eleonora Voltolina the most common reasons for the postponement of parenthood.
In the last few decades there has been a drop in fertility worldwide, «particularly in Europe, North America, and East-Asian countries». This is «very much related to the timing of fertility», according to Mills, for on average the age at first birth in Europe is now «around 29.5, but it’s much later in countries such as Italy and Spain, where it’s over 31». Having children seems more and more challenging, almost out of the question unless one has sorted out their professional, housing, economic situation. Even when all the pieces of the puzzle match up, it's often still not enough. Putting off the decision of having a baby when the desire to become a parent is strong is a painful choice, that may come with risks attached.