- 15 May 2021 04:40
#15172528
The country of Italy is embarking on an initiative to increase their birth rate.
Right now, birth rates across Europe are low, but the problem is especially dire in Italy due to the economic situation there.
Italians claim they cannot afford families, especially younger Italians, and especially in the Southern half of the country.
Of course, the country could just let in immigrants to solve the problem, but they want to preserve their country's culture. They don't want Italy to turn into just another version of North Africa.
As Italy records a historic low birthrate and the president calls for "every possible initiative" to reverse the trend, we look at why it's happening and what's really being done.
A new record low number of births was registered in Italy in 2019, according to the latest data released this week by national statistics bureau Istat.
There were just 435,000 births registered in Italy last year, the lowest on record, meaning the country's overall population is ageing more than ever before.
The growing demographic crisis, with births falling and life expectancy rising, is thought to be both a symptom and one of the causes of Italy's chronically stagnant economy.
While most Italians do want to have at least two children, according to Istat, experts point out that Italy's high levels of unemployment, the proliferation of badly-paid, short-term work contracts, and a lack of affordable housing and childcare mean many young people put off starting a family as they think it's unaffordable to do
The average age at which women in Italy have their first child is now 31 - the oldest in the EU
As younger Italians continue to move abroad to find work, immigrants increasingly make up a new tax-paying workforce in Italy, as well as caring for the ageing Italian population.
The majority of professional caregivers in Italy - 80 percent by some estimates - are foreigners.
What is Italy doing to increase its plummeting birth rate? - The Local
https://www.thelocal.it/20200212/what-i ... irth-rate/
Prime Minister Mario Draghi is seeking to turn around the decline in Italy’s birth rate with a 21 billion-euro ($25.4 billion) plan including measures like a universal income for all workers.
The situation looks critical, after the country’s natality fell to a record low in 2020 with about 16,000 fewer births compared with the previous year. Experts say the economic fallout from the pandemic is to blame, with the impact hitting women particularly hard.
"Without children, Italy’s fate is to age, and then disappear," Draghi said Friday at an event dedicated to supporting family growth. The premier confirmed that his government is planning to extend benefits for couples and women, including cash payments for families with children.
Italy recorded only 404,000 births in 2020, about 30% fewer than 30 years ago.
Italy Birth Rate Lower Than Ever, PM Mario Draghi Wants to Fix It - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... -to-fix-it
Right now, birth rates across Europe are low, but the problem is especially dire in Italy due to the economic situation there.
Italians claim they cannot afford families, especially younger Italians, and especially in the Southern half of the country.
Of course, the country could just let in immigrants to solve the problem, but they want to preserve their country's culture. They don't want Italy to turn into just another version of North Africa.
As Italy records a historic low birthrate and the president calls for "every possible initiative" to reverse the trend, we look at why it's happening and what's really being done.
A new record low number of births was registered in Italy in 2019, according to the latest data released this week by national statistics bureau Istat.
There were just 435,000 births registered in Italy last year, the lowest on record, meaning the country's overall population is ageing more than ever before.
The growing demographic crisis, with births falling and life expectancy rising, is thought to be both a symptom and one of the causes of Italy's chronically stagnant economy.
While most Italians do want to have at least two children, according to Istat, experts point out that Italy's high levels of unemployment, the proliferation of badly-paid, short-term work contracts, and a lack of affordable housing and childcare mean many young people put off starting a family as they think it's unaffordable to do
The average age at which women in Italy have their first child is now 31 - the oldest in the EU
As younger Italians continue to move abroad to find work, immigrants increasingly make up a new tax-paying workforce in Italy, as well as caring for the ageing Italian population.
The majority of professional caregivers in Italy - 80 percent by some estimates - are foreigners.
What is Italy doing to increase its plummeting birth rate? - The Local
https://www.thelocal.it/20200212/what-i ... irth-rate/
Prime Minister Mario Draghi is seeking to turn around the decline in Italy’s birth rate with a 21 billion-euro ($25.4 billion) plan including measures like a universal income for all workers.
The situation looks critical, after the country’s natality fell to a record low in 2020 with about 16,000 fewer births compared with the previous year. Experts say the economic fallout from the pandemic is to blame, with the impact hitting women particularly hard.
"Without children, Italy’s fate is to age, and then disappear," Draghi said Friday at an event dedicated to supporting family growth. The premier confirmed that his government is planning to extend benefits for couples and women, including cash payments for families with children.
Italy recorded only 404,000 births in 2020, about 30% fewer than 30 years ago.
Italy Birth Rate Lower Than Ever, PM Mario Draghi Wants to Fix It - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... -to-fix-it