Low, but not too low, fertility can represent a positive development

The public discourse about the ongoing fertility decline and spread of low fertility, consequences thereof, is often unscientific emotionally charged. As I argue in my book, Decline Prosper! (Skirbekk, 2022), per se does not pose a major societal threat – it also accompanied by number benefits. In this article, summarize main points: namely, that i) negative are exaggerated based on false assumptions; ii) driven many different, interacting factors, byproduct or cause positive developments; iii) here to stay; iv) societies urgently need adapt world with fewer children. Fertility self-perpetuating: once lowfertility has become normin one generation, level much less likely increase subsequent generations. At same time, no plausible migration would be enough meaningfully alter population aging long term. If, however, make right choices, can enable humans live more sustainably well into future, stimulate further developments human condition.