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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: Demographic trends in various European countries during the end of 19th and 20th century are reviewed with special emphasis on the historic changes in population dynamics. Transition from high birth rate and high mortality rate to low birth rate and low mortality rate led to a zero growth and even to a negative population growth. The decrease in birth rate is associated with the changes in the need to have children and with changes in the attitude of parents. The measures to stimulate birth rate are based on the assumption that parents want to have children but are prevented by socioeconomic factors. Birth rate can be stimulated by direct subsidies (1-time cash payments after the birth of a child, maternity leave, monthly bonus payments) or by indirect subsidies (loans for housing, medical care, education). 1-time cash payments vary from country to country and can amount to an average monthly salary. In the USSR, the amount of payment depends upon the income of the parents. All European countries provide for maternal leave (12-16 weeks). Monthly bonus payments for a 2nd child range from 1%-21% of an average monthly salary; the lowest payments are given in Greece and Spain and the highest--in Hungary. Countries with relatively low birth rate (Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, West Germany, France, Holland) are characterized by the highest child payments, while counties with relatively high birth rate (Greece, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal) have the lowest child payments.
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