Vance’s Stay-at-Home Parent Plan: Does It Solve America’s Family Crisis? 9|08|26

JD Vance’s reported plan to make federal child care funds available to certain married couples with a stay-at-home parent has sparked a debate over family policy, America’s declining birth rate, women in the workforce, and the role of government. I argue that we’re missing the broader context: Are financial incentives enough to reverse the decline in marriage, family formation, and birth rates? Also, what is actually driving the affordability crisis to begin with? The affordability crisis is driven by several factors, including federal debt, inflation, monetary policy, health care costs, and market concentration. At the same time, declining marriage and family formation are fundamentally cultural problems that cannot be solved simply through government subsidies. Too many debating this proposal fail to see the broader picture and are more concerned about clout chasing or aligning themselves with particular politicians rather than trying to solve an issue.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices