RPT-As births slow in China and US, ex-laggard Germany bucks trend Reuters 2 hrs ago Germany sees births up in Dec-Feb period Pro-family policies, immigration are factors Fertility treatments up in 2020
By Emma Thomasson
BERLIN, May 13 (Reuters) - China and the United States are grappling with falling birth rates but Germany has bucked the trend with a rise in births nine months after its first pandemic lockdown, testimony to recent family-friendly policies and higher migration.
Europe s largest economy used to have one of the lowest fertility rates in the region as conservative social norms and policies made it hard for women to reconcile families and work, crimping economic growth and compounding Germany s labour shortage as baby boomers retire.
Pro-family policies, immigration are factors Fertility treatments up in 2020
By Emma Thomasson
BERLIN, May 13 (Reuters) - China and the United States are grappling with falling birth rates but Germany has bucked the trend with a rise in births nine months after its first pandemic lockdown, testimony to recent family-friendly policies and higher migration.
Europe s largest economy used to have one of the lowest fertility rates in the region as conservative social norms and policies made it hard for women to reconcile families and work, crimping economic growth and compounding Germany s labour shortage as baby boomers retire.
That started to change as Chancellor Angela Merkel expanded parental benefits and state investment in childcare from 2005. Her 2015 decision to let in over a million mostly young refugees from Syria and elsewhere gave a further boost.
6 Min Read
BERLIN (Reuters) -China and the United States are grappling with falling birth rates but Germany has bucked the trend with a rise in births nine months after its first pandemic lockdown, testimony to recent family-friendly policies and higher migration.
FILE PHOTO: Children play at their tables during a demonstration of the use of sneeze guards at a nursery school as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Velbert, Germany, April 8, 2021. REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler
Europe’s largest economy used to have one of the lowest fertility rates in the region as conservative social norms and policies made it hard for women to reconcile families and work, crimping economic growth and compounding Germany’s labour shortage as baby boomers retire.
As births slow in China and US, ex-laggard Germany bucks trend Reuters 1 hr ago Pro-family policies, immigration are factors Fertility treatments up in 2020
By Emma Thomasson
BERLIN, May 13 (Reuters) - China and the United States are grappling with falling birth rates but Germany has bucked the trend with a rise in births nine months after its first pandemic lockdown, testimony to recent family-friendly policies and higher migration.
Europe s largest economy used to have one of the lowest fertility rates in the region as conservative social norms and policies made it hard for women to reconcile families and work, crimping economic growth and compounding Germany s labour shortage as baby boomers retire.