Not Only the Haredim: Why Do Israelis Have More Children While the West Has Fewer?
In the West, fewer children are being born, but Israel continues to deviate from the trend, and not only thanks to the Haredim. Economist Yanai Spitzer points to an exceptional family culture, and warns that…
Assessment
Israel's birth rate defies Western trends, and a new analysis argues the reason goes beyond the Haredi community. The economist cited warns that secular Jewish women delaying childbirth could eventually shift the country's demographic exceptionalism, which has long been attributed to a distinct family culture. The real question is whether that culture can survive rising costs and later parenthood.