It's a Numbers Game: The Numbers Behind Childcare Subsidies, Birth Rates & the Family Policy Myth

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Tim Carney, senior columnist at the Washington Examiner and author of Family Unfriendly, to unpack the numbers behind modern family policy. They examine whether government childcare subsidies actually increase birth rates—or simply incentivize workforce participation. Drawing on international examples like France, Carney explains why massive public spending often fails to support family formation and instead benefits political interests, labor unions, and bureaucracies.

The conversation explores the rising cost of living, housing affordability, and regulatory barriers that make starting a family harder than ever. Carney argues for policies that genuinely help families—such as expanding the child tax credit—while questioning who truly benefits from today’s childcare and education programs.

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