Declining Birth Rates of Italy

It has been reported by Global Agenda Magazine that Italy has the second lowest birth rate in Europe and the West. They are second only to Spain. Though Italy has an age old tradition of Catholics and is the center of Catholic Church, it is odd to note that the birth rate is only one single child per female.

It was brought out in an article in April 2004 in the Sunday Telegraph that Swedens Birth rate was close to
Italys though 50% higher. In order to arrest this situation, the Italian Government started offering 1,000
euros to every woman who had a second child.

Culturally this trend may appear strange in a previously Catholic country (its official status as a Roman Catholic state was removed in 1985) where family has been a central unit in society and Catholic culture.

In contrast to the situation in Italy, some other catholic countries in Europe such as France and Ireland
have a high rate of child birth. The reason for this may be attributed to the fact that the government is more
lavish in funding health and child care. They are also offering better incentives to families with more than one
child.

In countries where the birth rate is low and declining, such as Italy, Russia, and Japan, there is concern that the current pension systems will not continue to sustain an aging population with fewer people to pay into it.
Countries in Eastern Europe also witness a similar trend. Those who study social and public policy in Europe have been evaluating possible reasons for this decline in birth rates.

One possible line of thinking is that in the earlier days a large number of children were considered indispensable to help in the farms or run the family business. It was also expected that they would look after the aging parents. It was felt that having more children was a sort of insurance for the old age. But nowadays, people when they grow old, are less and less dependent on their children. The provision of pension has contributed to this kind of thinking.

Another explanation put forward for the declining birth rates is that individuals have lesser amount of money
left with them to take care of more children. This shortage of money has been attributed to contributions to
social programs such as pensions.

These days most women are working full time. Many countries do not offer child care facilities like what is
offered in a country like Norway. Norway takes care of this aspect and also permits flexible working hours along with maternity leave, unlike Italy. This is also considered as a reason for declining birth rates.

In all, the declining birth rate in Italy is certainly a reality that needs to be addressed with regard to how
todays young people will be supported in their old age. However, this problem is arguably less serious than the opposite situation of extreme population growth in developing countries.

Desri Dillinaco is the web designer of Italy which is a premier resource for Italy information.