Putting my nerd hat on, I could see there being some sort of equilibrium on a large enough timeline that we vacillate between above and below, populationwise. Population itself becomes the overarching economic cycle as we swing between periods of rampant capitalism and whatever replaces it. It does not appear we would learn the first time.

This is, of course, all assuming we don’t roast or blow ourselves up first.

it’s not just expense… People just genuinely don’t want kids. The old ways are changing and people are putting more value on experiencing life their way. It’s a way of life that is gaining more traction thanks to ever rising costs, but even if everyone all of a sudden made enough money to raise kids it’s not going to change the trajectory here.

The main reason being the massive concentration of wealth at the top, not since since just before the last catastrophic economic collapse.