[NYer]

Truly tragic! I spent many years in Italy during which time I grew to understand and appreciate the Italian culture. This trend was beginning to emerge at that time. I am truly sorry to learn the italians have not addressed this problem.

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Steely Tom]

If Italian women don’t care about being married, I guess that’s the end of the story.

[fwdude]

Somehow I’m sure this is the case in Marxachusetts as well, although I haven’t seen any studies done yet.

[Signalman]

It won’t be long before Italy and the rest of Europe becomes part of The Caliphate.

[ex-snook]

They must have missed all the ‘don’t shack up’ sermons.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

In demographics, it has long been known that when a nation reaches a particular economic plateau, the birthrate drops from large families to between 2.1 and 2.3 children per family, a no growth rate.

However, both government and the predominant culture can lower this birthrate even lower, by placing additional burdens on prospective parents. Often these seem benign, or even beneficial, such as setting minimal standards for education, health and prosperity. Each new requirement discourages a few more couples from having even two children, or any at all.

Other factors, such as employment, prices, taxes, residences; city, suburban or rural living; ease of contraception and abortion, and adult oriented entertainment come into play as well. And then, finally, religion and morality can either encourage or discourage having children.

Only one modern nation has ever succeeded in creating a baby boom, albeit unintentionally, and that is the United States. It achieved this through a peculiar combination of factors.

1) New cities, with far more adults of child bearing age than typical.
2) Mostly male (9-5) employment, with females taking the role of housekeeper, and wages high enough, and taxes low enough, for a one breadwinner household income.
3) A general lack of adult oriented entertainment, though lots of schools, churches, and other family oriented recreation.
4) Boredom, which was a critical factor in deciding to have children for many. If they could afford it, why not have children? It was something to do.

Since this is the only model known to work, if Italy, or Russia, or any of the other developed nations truly wish to increase their marriage and birthrate, this is the way for them to achieve it.

[Jeff Chandler]

.

[Del Rapier]

They will get married and they will go back to having kids as the country goes on,if there is an ethnic group or country resilient to keep on surviving it is them.