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Posted on 12/25/2006 11:37:23 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
German Family Affairs Minister Ursula von der Leyen hopes that the launch of new state-funded parents' support scheme will result in Germans having more children and as result help to reverse the steep decline in the nation's birth rate.
"Germany is a country, which has the longest and sharpest decline in the birth rate," von der Leyen told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
"I would be extremely pleased, if it succeeded in stopping this dramatic decrease of the birth rate," she said.
Analysts predict that Germany's current population of 82 million could drop to 50 million by 2050.
But in bid to encourage people to have more children, the German government is to introduce a new so-called parent's money benefit on January 1.
Under the new child welfare support, parents - either the mother or father - would be entitled to 67 per cent of their previous income, up to a maximum of 1,800 euros a month (2,363 dollars) while staying at home.
Von der Leyen, who has seven children. said the new parents money benefit represented the "first, but, key component" in helping Germany to address the greying of its population.
But she conceded that it will take some time "before people have the confidence to bring more children into the world again."
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I'm sure all the Muslim immigrants will cheerfully take advantage of her program and have more children. On the other hand I doubt it will have much effect on native German birthrates. The modern Euro is far too narcissistic to want to go to the trouble of having and raising families.
Increasing the tax burden on future generations by providing a subsidy now WILL NOT WORK. Why is it always a govt program or subsidy with these people, these idiotic socialists?
Perhaps they can subsidize razors for some of those East German women...
It might provide the same desired effect at a much lower cost.
Just stop taxing people to death.
They had a higher rate of birth before they imported this American custom. Maybe they should outlaw them.
I'm going for 3 and I've had one so far.
However, my best friend's father had 11 children, and 9 of them were boys. Now that is a man.
The baby-bonus has worked a treat in boosting the birth-rate in Australia.
You got a link to that?
It was introduced about 4 years ago. I'll try to find something for you.
Baby bonus boosts birthrate
By Michael McKinnon and Clara Pirani
September 16, 2006 12:00am
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THE Government's $4000 maternity payment has helped to accelerate the nation's birthrate with more than 10,000 extra babies born in the past year.
Centrelink data on the number of parents claiming the $4000 baby bonus, obtained using Freedom of Information laws, reveals that the birthrate is rising at a much faster rate than previously thought.
The figures show that 268,667 parents claimed the Federal Government payment for their newborns in 2005-06. While yet to be confirmed in official birth statistics, this number represents an increase of more than 10,000 births on the previous year and more than 16,000 on 2003-04.
Demographers suggest the maternity payment - worth $3000 when it was introduced in July 2004 but increased to $4000 in July this year - combined with low interest rates and low unemployment, may be driving the baby boom.
Australia's fertility rate, which reached 1.8 babies per woman last year, is up from 1.72 in 2003 and is well above rates of between 1.2 and 1.4 in many other developed nations.
The figures provide the first comprehensive picture of the number and ages of people who have claimed the baby bonus in the two years since its introduction. According to the Centrelink data, there were 235,299 claims for the bonus - comprising 194,342 couples and 40,957 single parents - in 2004-05.
The number of claims jumped by 33,368 in 2005-06 to 268,667, perhaps reflecting the fact that some parents failed to claim the bonus in its first year.
The figures dispel suggestions the lucrative payment has encouraged teenagers to have children, with only 186 extra claims by teenagers between 2004-05 and 2005-06.
Overall, 4800 teenagers claimed the bonus in 2005-06.
However, older women are increasingly giving birth.
The number of claims by parents over the age of 40 increased from 9906 to 15,873.
Similarly, the number of claims by parents aged 35-39 increased from 44,783 in 2004-05 to 55,350 in 2005-06.
A spokeswoman for Treasurer Peter Costello - who famously remarked at the 2004 Budget that families should have "one for mum, one for dad, and one for the country" - said the Government's family-friendly policies were responsible for the growing birthrate.
"The Government has offered a number of incentives, such as the baby bonus, substantial increases in the rates of family benefits and extra childcare places to help with the hurdles of raising a family.
"Having a child can be costly and it is pleasing that this payment is helping thousands of families around Australia with these costs. If it brings about an increase in the fertility rate, that is a good thing."
A higher number of births reflected a growing level of confidence in Australia's future and that families had been experiencing a high level of economic security under the Coalition Government, the spokeswoman said.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20419491-2,00.html
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Sure thing!
Good news there, but the best way for Australia to raise the birth rate is a return to Christianity.
Well, we haven't officially left it...
May have something to do with starting two world wars and being a Socialist ninny afterwards.
OMG! I didn't get to that part before I had started laughing! Germany is insane! I wouldn't even bother working to support this. I'd just quit and leave...
Key phrase there. Suggest as in cannot conclusively prove. Without something more substantiative, I'd chalk up the increase as coincidental.
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