As the birthrate has fallen for the past 17 years, we have been constantly warned against “panicking” over it. The “don’t worry” folks and the “actually this is good” folks both have a favorite argument: People aren’t forming families less, they’re just forming families later.  

Often this is presented as not merely a personal choice, but as a sign of progress: Older marriage means more mature marriage, and later births mean more educated and more financially sound parents.