"What I think he is saying is that collectively it is better for society that more people invest in productive activities that generate new wealth."

It's incredible that we've gone this deep into thread and subthread talking about aggregate economic benefits and not once mentioned families and children.

Never mind the plants you're buying at the nursery - what is the long range economic impact, in the aggregate, of creating additional human beings ?

(which, according to many, works best in a stable environment of ownership)