Actually, you want declining birthrate in a modern country. You don’t need 10 kids to work the farm with better technology to plant and harvest and help take care of the animals. You don’t need 5 kids to go to the factory to support you because you’re legally not allowed to work because you’re a woman. You have better food and better medicine so you don’t need to hedge your bets on which of your 6 kids is going to live to be an adult.
Actually, you want declining birthrate in a modern country. You don’t need 10 kids to work the farm with better technology to plant and harvest and help take care of the animals. You don’t need 5 kids to go to the factory to support you because you’re legally not allowed to work because you’re a woman. You have better food and better medicine so you don’t need to hedge your bets on which of your 6 kids is going to live to be an adult.