As Europe Grows Grayer, France Devises a Baby Boom

[MountainLaurel]

Very interesting approach to a larger social issue. Part of me wonders, however, if the focus on getting French families to procreate is a backlash against the influx of African Muslim immigrants.

Discuss.

When the municipal day-care center ran out of space because of a local baby boom, the town government gave Maylis Staub and her husband $200 a month to defray the cost of a "maternal assistant" to care for their two children.

When Staub delivered twins last December -- her third and fourth children -- the nation not only increased their tax deductions and child allowances, the government-owned French train system offered 40 percent discounts off tickets for the parents and the children until they reach their 18th birthdays.

snip

While falling birthrates threaten to undermine economies and social stability across much of an aging Europe, French fertility rates are increasing. France now has the second-highest fertility rate in Europe -- 1.94 children born per woman, exceeded slightly by Ireland's rate of 1.99. The U.S. fertility rate is 2.01 children.

snip

But the propensity of women here to have more babies has little to do with notions of French romance or the population's formerly strong religious ties to the Roman Catholic Church.

France heavily subsidizes children and families from pregnancy to young adulthood with liberal maternity leaves and part-time work laws for women. The government also covers some child-care costs of toddlers up to 3 years old and offers free child-care centers from age 3 to kindergarten, in addition to tax breaks and discounts on transportation, cultural events and shopping.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/17/AR2006101701652.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Hitler gave out Mutterschaft medals with stipends to encourage

women to make more babies for the Reich. Paying women to be pregnant is hardly original.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. I call Godwin. -nt

[dolo amber]

3. ...

:rofl:

[MountainLaurel]

5. Godwin?

Please refresh my memory as to the reference.

Thanks!

:hi:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. Link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_Law

[MountainLaurel]

7. Aaaaaah.

How very appropo. Thanks.

:toast:

[Mass]

4. Not paying women to be pregnant. Making sure every kid is taken care of.

This is a real family policy, contrarely to what this governement does.

This is also a very old policy in France, that was established by left-wing governements, so that women who have kids be free to do what they want.

Unfortunately, US newspapers continue to think they understand France so well.

BTW, the fact that the fertility is higher in France is largely due to Muslim families, who have more children than the average catholic family.