Remote Work Emerges as Affordable Fertility Boost

Op-ed argues hybrid and remote policies could drive a baby boom with minimal cost to government

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A New York Times op-ed by Yale lecturer Joanne Lipman argues that remote and hybrid work policies have already led to a baby boom in the US, with research suggesting around 290,000 extra births per year since the pandemic. Economist Nicholas Bloom is quoted saying that when both parents shift to at least one work-from-home day per week, they average about half a child more, calling remote work "the most effective fertility-boosting policy out there" due to the opportunities and availability it provides.

Why it matters

With concerns over declining US birth rates, policymakers have been searching for ways to incentivize a baby boom. This op-ed suggests that remote and hybrid work policies, which have become more common since the pandemic, could provide a low-cost and effective way to boost fertility without requiring direct government intervention or spending.

The details

The op-ed, written by Yale lecturer Joanne Lipman, cites research from a Stanford working paper that estimates remote and hybrid work have led to around 290,000 extra births per year in the US since the pandemic began. Economist Nicholas Bloom is quoted saying that when both parents shift to at least one work-from-home day per week, they average about half a child more, calling remote work "the most effective fertility-boosting policy out there" due to the opportunities and availability it provides.

  • The op-ed was published on February 10, 2026.

The players

Joanne Lipman

A lecturer at Yale University who wrote the op-ed.

Nicholas Bloom

An economist who is quoted in the op-ed discussing the fertility-boosting effects of remote work.

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What they’re saying

“the most effective fertility-boosting policy out there”

— Nicholas Bloom, Economist (New York Times)

The takeaway

This op-ed suggests that the rise of remote and hybrid work policies since the pandemic could provide a low-cost and effective way for policymakers to boost declining US birth rates, without requiring direct government intervention or spending.