Investments in Italy and in the EU
Italy is one of the European countries that spends the least on family support and birth rate policies. In 2019, it invested just 1.1% of GDP (about 20 billion), compared to 3.3% in Germany (116 billion) and 2.3% in France (62 billion). The only ones that fare worse are Cyprus (1% of GDP) and Malta (0.8%). Overall, spending across the EU on family and child benefits amounted to €315 billion, equivalent to 2.3% of Europe’s GDP. A first turning point came with the Draghi government, which increased spending on family support measures to 1.4% of GDP (about 26 billion, 6 more) in 2022 and introduced the single and universal check (auu). The Auu is a universal measure (it goes to all families with children), a structural one (it finances the child up to the age of 18 if it is up to 21,175 euros per month child for less well-off families, 50 euros for the richer ). For each child in excess of the second child, an increase from 85 euros to 15 euros per month is envisaged. The amount of 175 euros affects half of Italian families, while a contribution of 100 euros per month reaches the part of the middle class that has a family income between 60,000 and 70,000 euros (MEF estimates). The measure also extends to the children of immigrants if the parents have had a residence permit for at least 6 months. In the first 9 months of the year nearly 6 million applications (5,982,892) were received relating to over 9 million children (9,176,144) and 8.9 billion euros were paid out.
Family allowances in Europe: the two models
All European countries have a fertility rate of less than two children per woman. The main approaches to supporting the birth rate are two completely different ones. A study recently published by the British Medical Journal photographed them. The first, typical of France and Germany, is human-centred, inclusive, promotes rights and gender equality. The second opposite, prevalent in Poland and Hungary and defined as pro-natalist, puts pressure on women to marry for the good of the nation and have as many children as possible, and enforces conservative family and gender roles.
In France
France, on the other hand, has been investing in the future for decades and even has the highest birth rate in Europe (1.83). Taxation is not carried out on an individual basis, but is calculated on the total income of the family (family quotient). All major checks are income-tested, meaning they are higher for the less affluent and are also collected from non-residents. The most important measure is the family allowance, a contribution that finances families with at least two children up to the age of 20 (25 if studying). The basic amount is 140 euros per month, 320 euros for three children, 500 euros for more than 4 children. After the age of 14 there is a further increase of 88 euros per child. In addition, there is the childbirth allowance (970 euros), the basic monthly amount for children up to the age of three (175 euros per month) and the back-to-school allowance (principle: 378.87 for children between the ages of 6 and 10). , 399.77 for children between 11 and 14, 413.62 for children between 15 and 18). French regulations also provide that parents can take part-time work for a long period (in principle one year, but it can be extended up to three years). The state pays part of the missing salary.
Poland and Hungary
After 1989, the countries of Eastern Europe suffered a significant demographic slump. For the past decade, they’ve tried to change course. In Poland, after the failure of the Family 500+ 2022 program, the national-conservative government launched Family Care Capital, a program that increases the state contribution for the second and all subsequent children to 213 euros a month. The fertility rate in 2021 remains low: 1.3. In Hungary, on the other hand, the economic allowances are much lower: 30 euros a month for the first child, 37 for the second and 44 for the following ones. The focus is on tax breaks and benefits: women who marry under 40 receive a subsidized mortgage, as do families with two children. If you have 3 children, the state offers a 7-seater car grant. From the fourth child, no more taxes are paid for life. After an initial recovery over the past decade, the fertility rate in Hungary has stabilized at 1.5 children per woman. Despite commitment to family and emphasis on conservative values, Eastern countries have shown great reluctance to invest in gender equality and childcare services. Today, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland have the lowest enrollment rates in kindergartens in the European Union (below 10%) and still maintain a family organization focused on the care of women. Hungary does little better (16%). In Poland, abortion restrictions were further tightened (in practice, an abortion can only be performed if the mother risks her life), the free distribution of contraceptives was banned, voluntary sterilization was banned, prenatal screening was restricted.
11/30/2022 | 07:12
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