One potentially negative effect would be if fertility is over-rated as a driver of why older people have fewer children—e.g. if parental energy is also a significant effect. If this is the case, people might delay having children in the expectation how using artificial wombs, but then lack the energy to manage multiple kids later on. Alternatively, if the arrival of artificial wombs causes people to delay having children, the temporary reduction in births could contribute to the de-normalisation of parenthood, which could reduce longer term desired fertility.
I doubt the magnitude of these effects are sufficient to fully reverse the sign though.
I totally agree with this, and think this may be the strongest argument for why the development of artificial wombs could paradoxically worsen fertility rates if developed.
One potentially negative effect would be if fertility is over-rated as a driver of why older people have fewer children—e.g. if parental energy is also a significant effect. If this is the case, people might delay having children in the expectation how using artificial wombs, but then lack the energy to manage multiple kids later on. Alternatively, if the arrival of artificial wombs causes people to delay having children, the temporary reduction in births could contribute to the de-normalisation of parenthood, which could reduce longer term desired fertility.
I doubt the magnitude of these effects are sufficient to fully reverse the sign though.
I totally agree with this, and think this may be the strongest argument for why the development of artificial wombs could paradoxically worsen fertility rates if developed.