Italy: A land of low Birth Rate

Declining Birth Rates of Italyphenomenon of low birth rates is being studied by
Italy, as we all know, is the world center of the Catholicpeople who study social and public policy in Europe.
Church. Strangely, in spite of its deep-rooted CatholicThey believe that in the past, having children was a
culture and tradition, it has today changed into a nationway of investing in ones old age security. This meant
having the second lowest birth rates in Europe, nextthat if one had more children he had more hands to
only to Spain. At 1.2 per woman that means one childhelp with farming and the family business as well as
per woman, according to Global Agenda Magazine.more people to take care of him in his old age. With
It was brought out in an article in April 2004 in thethe introduction of pension systems where you pay
Sunday Telegraph that Swedens Birth rate was closefor your own future security, the older people have
to Italys though 50% higher. In order to arrest thisbecome less dependent on their children for their
situation, the Italian Government started offering 1,000financial needs and this has had a major impact on
euros to every woman who had a second child.birth rates.
Other traditionally Catholic nations, like Ireland andThey also feel that since people have to pay higher
France, have the highest and second highest birthtaxes to support these kinds of social programmes,
rates in Europe. Even Sweden has a 50% higher birththey have lower disposable incomes and less money
rate in comparison to Italy. These increased numbersto meet the expenses of bringing up more children.
may be due to better government-controlled child andAnother cause for the declining birth rate is the fact
health care facilities as well as incentives for familiesthat more women are working full-time during their
that have more children.childbearing years. Child-care programmes of different
Ireland and France, on the other hand, other traditionallycountries vary. For example, Norway has better
Catholic countries, have the first and second highestfinancial and infrastructure facilities as compared to
birth rates in Europe. These numbers may beItaly. Norwegian day-care centers are government
explained by more generous government-funded childfunded and mothers have the option to work part-time,
and health care and benefits for families that havewithout affecting their position at work. They also get
children.longer maternity leave.
It is a cause of concern that this trend will result inIt is important to seriously start thinking as to how the
having a large number of people who are old andpeople of today in Italy will be supported when they
there are only a few people contributing gainfully to thegrow old. Nevertheless this problem of low birth rate is
society. This situation is likely in countries like Russia,definitely better than the problem that comes with very
Japan, Italy and other eastern European countries. Thishigh population growth.