Ideas worth spreading

The case for having kids

2,291,860 views |

Wajahat Ali |

TED2019

• April 2019

The global fertility rate, or the number of children per woman, has halved over the last 50 years. What will having fewer babies mean for the future of humanity? In this funny, eye-opening talk, journalist (and self-described exhausted dad) Wajahat Ali examines how the current trend could lead to unexpected problems -- and shares why he believes we need to make it easier for people to have babies. "For those who can and choose to, may you pass on this beautiful thing called life with kindness, generosity, decency and love," he says.

The global fertility rate, or the number of children per woman, has halved over the last 50 years. What will having fewer babies mean for the future of humanity? In this funny, eye-opening talk, journalist (and self-described exhausted dad) Wajahat Ali examines how the current trend could lead to unexpected problems -- and shares why he believes we need to make it easier for people to have babies. "For those who can and choose to, may you pass on this beautiful thing called life with kindness, generosity, decency and love," he says.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Wajahat Ali

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Daily Beast columnist and co-host of the "Democracy-ish" podcast, recovering attorney, playwright, author and exhausted dad Wajahat Ali celebrates the diverse narratives of the United States and advocates for a more inclusive cultural landscape.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.