Do you know someone who recently had a baby? It's part of a trend, researchers say. Working from home may have boosted fertility among college-educated women, according to a new National Bureau of Economic Research working paper co-authored by Northwestern University economist Hannes Schwandt.
The subtle “baby bump” in the US caught researchers by surprise because early forecasts predicted a crash in birth rates at the beginning of the pandemic, Emily Peck wrote in Axios. The quick economic recovery and the rise of remote work may have changed the trajectory, the authors say.
"It's the first recession where we actually see birth rates go up," Schwandt told Axios.
An economist who studies the relationships between health, wealth, and overall well-being, Schwandt is known for spotlighting important societal trends. His research has looked at everything from the impact of air pollution on fetal development to the mental health effects of school shootings and the effects of unemployment on fertility.
Schwandt, associate professor of human development and social policy, coauthored the paper with Martha Bailey of the University of California Los Angeles and Janet Currie of Princeton.
- Read the full press release.
- Read the study, The Covid-19 Baby Bump: The Unexpected Increase in U.S. Fertility Rates in Response to the Pandemic
Related coverage:
- The New York Times, Oct. 26, 2022
The Pandemic Led to More Babies Last Year, Not Fewer - Chicago Sun Times, Oct. 24
The pandemic bumped 2021 birthrate, study shows - New York Times, Oct. 22
- Remote Work Is Here to Stay. Lean In, Employers
- HealthDay News, Oct. 21
Kept Home Under Lockdown, U.S. Couples May Have Spurred a 'Baby Bump' - Time, Oct. 20
The Numbers Behind America's Quiet Pandemic Baby Boost - Axios, Oct. 19
Remote work may have fueled a baby boom among U.S. women - Marketplace, Oct. 19
How the pandemic created an unexpected “baby bump” - CNN, Oct. 18
Covid’s WFH revolution helped fuel a baby boom - Reason, Oct. 18
The Pandemic Baby Bump