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FAMILY PERKS DO INCREASE POPULATION

The western world has been in despair about its rapidly declining population. However, when countries have tried to cut back on social benefits to soften the effects of the population decline, they have experienced a backlash from the public, which then forces the governments to withdraw their plans for cutbacks.

It seems, though, that France has stumbled on a solution to the problem. Instead of withdrawing benefits to the general public, France has decided to add benefits for larger families. It seems to be working. France had a birth rate typical of European nations, of only 1.5 children per woman of childbearing age. In a matter of a few years, France now has a birth rate of 1.9 children per woman of childbearing age and holds second place in the rates of European countries, with only Catholic Ireland having a higher birth rate.

Quite an amazing difference. The perks offered to French families to encourage births are imaginative and include some of the following genuine advantages for large families.

• A large family "card" which gives a 30% reduction on train fare and half price for the Paris subway;



• Free entrance to swimming pools and museums for families with three or more children;



• $300.00 for extra-curricular arts and sports activities for families;



• A calibrated income tax rate: the more children a family has, the less tax they pay;



• A monthly allowance of $360.00 for families with three children. This grant increases when the children reach 11 years of age;



• A tax deduction for housekeeping help;



• Parents working in the public sector or large companies receive subsidized holiday camps, financial bonuses at the start of the school year, and Christmas presents for the children;



• Families have an option of receiving $1,160.00 per month for 1 year after the birth of a third child or $690.00 per month for three years after the birth;



• Tax credits for babysitting fees;



• 15,000 new crèche places, double tax credits for some child care costs, and financial benefits for parents looking after a sick child.

Experts are now pondering this relatively high French birth rate, because in relation to Ireland, it does present a degree of mystery. This is due to the fact that Ireland has a higher fertility rate than France, but it doesn't have all the family perks available to French parents. Nobody understands the reasons for this difference.

Meanwhile, parents of large families in France are enjoying all the perks and the birth rate there keeps increasing. These perks are obviously irresistible to many parents and who can blame them?

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