Comments on: Children as a Consumer Good vs a Producer Good http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/children-as-a-consumer-good-vs-a-producer-good/ Investing and Personal Finance Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:11:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: <![CDATA[FourPillars]]> http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/children-as-a-consumer-good-vs-a-producer-good/comment-page-1/#comment-1380 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:14:26 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/children-as-a-consumer-good-vs-a-producer-good/#comment-1380 Well my wife was definitely opposed but I think getting her around more babies & little kids helped change her mind. Either way - I don't think it affects the quality of life. Well my wife was definitely opposed but I think getting her around more babies & little kids helped change her mind.

Either way – I don’t think it affects the quality of life.

]]> By: <![CDATA[Mr. Cheap]]> http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/children-as-a-consumer-good-vs-a-producer-good/comment-page-1/#comment-1379 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:04:57 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/children-as-a-consumer-good-vs-a-producer-good/#comment-1379 Mike: I am still on the fence somewhat with the kid thing. My girlfriend is firmly opposed, which is what has me leaning in that direction. If she was wildly enthusiastic about having kids I could probably be talked into it (although it would certainly postpone early retirement). Mike: I am still on the fence somewhat with the kid thing. My girlfriend is firmly opposed, which is what has me leaning in that direction. If she was wildly enthusiastic about having kids I could probably be talked into it (although it would certainly postpone early retirement).

]]> By: <![CDATA[FourPillars]]> http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/children-as-a-consumer-good-vs-a-producer-good/comment-page-1/#comment-1377 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:01:29 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/children-as-a-consumer-good-vs-a-producer-good/#comment-1377 Very interesting post. <i>spending time with his girls instead</i> Makes me sound like Hugh Hefner :) I actually only have one boy. Don't give up on the kid, family thing - I got married when I was 36 and had a kid at 37 so not everyone does things at the "normal" ages - whatever those are. Mike Very interesting post.

spending time with his girls instead
Makes me sound like Hugh Hefner :) I actually only have one boy.

Don’t give up on the kid, family thing – I got married when I was 36 and had a kid at 37 so not everyone does things at the “normal” ages – whatever those are.

Mike

]]> By: <![CDATA[Canadian Capitalist]]> http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/children-as-a-consumer-good-vs-a-producer-good/comment-page-1/#comment-1376 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:51:05 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/children-as-a-consumer-good-vs-a-producer-good/#comment-1376 I disagree with the view that children are consumer "goods". We have children because we have a innate desire to reproduce and have a family, not for considerations that they will bring us more joy than a big screen plasma TV. It is true that in the past (or even now in some societies) children were viewed by families as future producer goods. But how different is it from modern society, which looks at children as future taxpayers who will support our aging population? From the perspective of a large society, children today are what they always were - producer goods. I disagree with the view that children are consumer “goods”. We have children because we have a innate desire to reproduce and have a family, not for considerations that they will bring us more joy than a big screen plasma TV.

It is true that in the past (or even now in some societies) children were viewed by families as future producer goods. But how different is it from modern society, which looks at children as future taxpayers who will support our aging population? From the perspective of a large society, children today are what they always were – producer goods.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/children-as-a-consumer-good-vs-a-producer-good/comment-page-1/#comment-1378 Anonymous Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:02:17 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/children-as-a-consumer-good-vs-a-producer-good/#comment-1378 CC: I agree with the view of society's perspective on citizens (there's probably an interesting view of the trade off between higher birth-rate and immigration as methods for increasing the population of tax payers). If you agree that children WERE producer goods, and that they no longer are in some places (such as Canada), what are they now? Is there no way the "innate desire to reproduce and have a family" can be compared to the innate desire to kick back with a beer in front of a massive plasma? *grin* I realize this post might not be terribly amusing to a new parent. I meant no disrespect, its just one perspective (an economic one, that I find interesting) on the decision to reproduce. Perhaps I should keep my mouth shut on the parenting issue until / if I'm in the club :-) CC: I agree with the view of society’s perspective on citizens (there’s probably an interesting view of the trade off between higher birth-rate and immigration as methods for increasing the population of tax payers).

If you agree that children WERE producer goods, and that they no longer are in some places (such as Canada), what are they now?

Is there no way the “innate desire to reproduce and have a family” can be compared to the innate desire to kick back with a beer in front of a massive plasma?

*grin* I realize this post might not be terribly amusing to a new parent. I meant no disrespect, its just one perspective (an economic one, that I find interesting) on the decision to reproduce.

Perhaps I should keep my mouth shut on the parenting issue until / if I’m in the club :-)

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