[Video] James Madison Program: Marriage, Kids, and the State: Can Government Help?

Panel Discussion at Princeton University with Patrick Brown and Wendy R. Wang
March 5, 2026

U.S. fertility is at a record low. Young adults are delaying marriage and childbearing, and a growing share are opting out of marriage and family all together. At the same time, the cost of raising children continues to rise, and concerns about economic challenges now outweigh cultural ones in public opinion when Americans are asked about the issues facing families today. We are entering an age with much more uncertainty toward the things we used to be sure of: Getting married and having children. There has been an increased interest among conservatives in a more active and affirmative family policy, the question is: Can government help? This talk brings together Patrick Brown of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and Rachel Lu, Associate Editor of Law & Liberty, for a conversation on the contemporary challenges to family formation and flourishing. Together, they will explore the economic, cultural, and moral factors influencing family decisions today, and consider the benefits and costs of expanding the state's role in supporting family formation. The discussion will be moderated by Wendy Wang, Senior Fellow and Director of Research at the Institute for Family Studies.