(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The COVID-19 shutdowns and lockdowns and other disruptions led to a mini baby boom, according to new research.
A research paper co-authored by an economist at Northwestern discovered that after an initial slowdown in birth rates, birth rates increased in 2021 and that continued into last year.
Wall street Journal columnist Mark Hulbert told the WBBM Noon Business Hour that there's more to the baby bump than couples having extra time on their hands three years ago.
The pandemic forced people to work from home and the added flexibility of telecommuting brought more women into the workforce.
"The other interesting thing to point out is that this is something that is worldwide," Hulbert explained.
"If you look at developed nations as a whole, there has been an increase in the participation rates in the labor force by women and this is correlated to-at least in developing countries, to greater birth rates."
The Northwestern study found there was a net increase of 46,000 births over the pre-pandemic trend.