While the State is preparing to write to French people aged 29 to inform them about their fertility, an international study puts forward a simple idea: this daily habit would be much more effective in boosting births.
In the fall of 2026, all French men and women who will celebrate their 29th birthday will receive a personalized letter from the State. Announced by the government as part of the “fertility and perinatal health” plan, this information campaign aims to respond to the decline in the birth rate and the increase in difficulty conceiving, often linked to an older age at first child. The idea? Inform without feeling guilty, to allow everyone to make informed choices. But is receiving a letter at 29 really well received by the younger generation? According to a study by Stanford University, another practice would be much more effective on the birth rate.
This study, carried out using data collected in 32 countries, examined the evolution of the number of children per woman in relation to certain transformations in the organization of work. The authors compared the periods and territories where this practice developed with those where it remained marginal, taking into account variables such as income level, family policies and the female employment rate. Result: when both partners telework at least one day per week, the number of children increases on average by 0.32 children per woman compared to couples who do not telework. In the United States, researchers estimate that this could represent up to 291,000 additional births per year.
This lever is teleworking. Researchers show that by reducing time constraints and daily travel, it concretely changes the living conditions of couples. When both partners are at home more often, it becomes easier to get together as a couple, to organize their schedule and to arrange moments of privacy, especially when there are already one or more children at home. The travel time saved can be reinvested in family life, and travel fatigue is reduced. The work also highlights that this flexibility reduces perceived stress and improves the balance between professional and personal life, two factors associated with more frequent action in terms of children’s plans.
These results above all remind us that the decision to have a child is not based solely on a desire or on a level of information, but on very concrete living conditions. The time available, fatigue, daily organization, the possibility of reconciling career and family weigh heavily in the balance. If the birth rate is falling in many countries, it is perhaps not only a question of desire, but of framework. At a time when working methods are changing, this study shows that acting on the professional environment could have measurable demographic effects. It remains to be seen whether these transformations will be a lasting part of the landscape and whether they will benefit all couples, whatever their sector of activity.
