The Decline of Marriage
&quot;As mentioned in the previous essay, single parenthood correlates with a number of social maladies.&quot;<p>This may be true historically, but does it have to be that way going forward? 
My thoughts, not based on studies but based on people I know, is that the general interest in marriage has declined as there is a preference for greater autonomy amongst both men and women, not to mention economic independence. 
Marriage was born out of economic need, and was given a religious stamp of approval. If the same economic need isn&#x27;t there, and developed countries are becoming more secular in their beliefs, it would seem only natural that marriage rates would decline.<p>But that doesn&#x27;t mean people don&#x27;t want children, or can&#x27;t have children. With the introduction of ivf, and both egg and sperm donors -known or unknown- its possible for the birth rate to be maintained. It may sound bizarre now just as putting ones profile up online in search of a mate was at one time, but it could be become the new norm. Search for gametes the same way you searched for a partner at one time.<p>As far as the maladies of single parenthood go, much of that may be attributed to the education levels of the single parent and&#x2F;or their poor economic circumstances. It doesn&#x27;t have to be that way though. Of our last 4 US Presidents, 2 pretty much grew up without having a reliable  father around for most of their life. They seemed to both have had pretty smart moms.