12/26/2007

Birthrates in Europe Reversing

Birthrates in 16 European countries slightly increased from 2004 to 2006 after 20 years of decline. According to Work & Family Life (October 2007; www.workandfamilylife.com) the population decline is of concern to the European Union because of the potential shortage of workers in relation to older people.

In response to the decline, several countries have offered financial incentives to encourage larger families. For example, Spain pays a bonus for each new child, France gives working parents a monthly payment to stay at home and raise a third infant, and Germany pays new parents for a year to stay home with an infant.

However, reports Work & Family Life, there is a growing consensus in the European Union that offering parental leave and workplace flexibility is a better way to increase the birthrate than paying people to have kids or to stay at home with a baby. The highest birthrates in Europe have long been the Scandinavian countries that are well known for their paid parental leave and subsidized child care.

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