The Global Fertility Crisis Is Worse Than You Think

The Global Fertility Crisis Is Worse Than You Think

From Plain English with Derek Thompson by The Ringer

May 15, 2026 · 1h 1m

About this episode

Derek Thompson interviews economist Jesús Fernández-Villaverde about the global fertility crisis and its potential impact on the future of civilization.

Fertility rates are collapsing around the world. In rich countries and poor ones, in secular societies and religious ones, people are having fewer children than ever before. Some explanations focus on economic factors like housing costs, childcare costs, and student debt. Others point to a harder-to-measure, broader sense of uncertainty about the future. At the same time, economist Jesús Fernández-Villaverde thinks we are underestimating how big a deal this really is. In his view, only two forces will truly shape the future of human history in this century: artificial intelligence and fertility, and changes are already underway. Today, Fernández-Villaverde joins Derek to talk about the global fertility decline, why it is happening across so many different societies, and why he believes this shift could reshape economics, culture, and the future of civilization. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@PlainEnglishwithDerekThompson If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. Host: Derek Thompson Guest: Jesús Fernández-Villaverde Producer: Devon Baroldi Additional Production Support: Ben Glicksman…

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Host: Derek Thompson

Guest: Jesús Fernández-Villaverde

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Organizations: The Ringer

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