WealthyMarmot t1_jdx63qt wrote on March 27, 2023 at 9:02 PM

Reply to comment by Wwize in Germany is overhauling its immigration rules to bolster a rapidly shrinking workforce by yash13

Given that income and education are inversely correlated to fertility rates, I'm not sure how that would help. There are deeper issues at play.

TheGreatPiata t1_jdx8x4h wrote on March 27, 2023 at 9:21 PM

The problem is requiring 2 incomes to survive. If you want people to have more kids, move to a 3 day work week so someone can always be home tending to the house and family.

turbo-unicorn t1_jdxouge wrote on March 27, 2023 at 11:13 PM

Not sure if this applies to Germany, but I suspect it's similar. Here in NL, working 4 days a week is quite common. Of course, lower pay, but it's good enough for most things.

Housing is a huge problem, but I suspect the birth rate has more to do with people just wanting to enjoy life more, as kids are quite the burden on a hedonistic life style.

liljizbaby t1_jdxsswl wrote on March 27, 2023 at 11:43 PM

Please cite a single country where this happens.

Rich countries have less children then poorer ones. It has nothing to do with incomes, but rather education.

TheGreatPiata t1_je02xul wrote on March 28, 2023 at 1:29 PM

You're missing my point.

Because everyone needs 2 incomes to survive, everyone is focused on work and careers instead of home and family. Having only 1 person in a household work isn't ideal because 2 incomes are more stable and it makes one person have all the homemaker responsibilities (and it will likely usually be the woman).

If you move to a 3 day work week, someone should be home most of the time to take care of children and do household chores, women can continue to work and fathers can be more present.

This isn't happening in any countries because no one is attempting it and likely won't for a long time.

The dearth of children is a multifaceted problem but I think the biggest hurdles outside of finding a spouse is the cost (not just money but loss of career advancement) and available free time everyone has. I have 2 kids and it takes an awful lot to see them through those early years.