Parental investment and the optimization of human family size (original) (raw)

The paper examines the balance between parental investment and family size in humans, arguing that reproductive success is constrained by the need for quality over quantity in offspring. It explores how traditional high-fertility populations manage reproductive strategies and how varying cultural and economic contexts influence parental investment decisions. The findings suggest that decreasing fertility rates may reflect a strategic shift towards investing more resources in fewer children, which aligns with contemporary higher socioeconomic status and extended childhood dependency.