Proposed raising of retirement age as strategy to boost birth rate among children
In Russia, the discussion surrounding the impact of early retirement incentives on family planning decisions, particularly for second children, is a topic of interest. While direct search results addressing this specific impact are scarce, general economic and demographic theory suggests that such incentives could potentially encourage individuals and families to have more children.
Early retirement incentives, such as lowering the pension age, could offer economic security and a clearer timeline for retirement benefits, making larger families more affordable and secure for parents. This improved financial outlook might encourage couples to consider having a second child, as they anticipate receiving pension benefits sooner.
Russia faces demographic challenges, with declining fertility rates being a significant concern. In an attempt to counteract this trend, the government sometimes employs pension reforms as part of its family planning strategies. For instance, lowering the pension age or offering generous early retirement benefits might make couples more inclined to have a second child, hoping that improved financial security will support their family growth.
However, it's essential to note that the exact impact of these incentives on second-child decisions in Russia remains unclear, as specific data linking lower pension age directly to this decision were not found in the current search results.
Petr Shcherbachenko, a senior lecturer at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, emphasises the importance of creating opportunities for parents, especially those with multiple children, to combine childcare with work. To this end, alternative proposals suggest increasing the size of maternity leave allowances at the expense of the employer, without burdening the budget further.
For subsequent children, these proposals suggest a significant increase in maternity leave payments compared to the first child. For instance, the proposal suggests a 60% increase for the second child and an 80% increase for the third child. Moreover, additional indexing is planned for the fourth, fifth child, and so on.
The "Fair Russia - For Truth" party has proposed lowering the pension age based on the number of children, with a reduction of one year for two children, three years for three, and five years for four or more. However, this proposal requires additional budget funds, according to Petr Shcherbachenko.
Experts like Yevgeny Golovin, a lawyer and social issues expert, believe that a sharp increase in maternity leave payments could be an effective incentive for families to have a second or third child. Scientists at the Institute of Socio-Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences also propose increasing maternity leave payments for subsequent children.
However, it's important to remember that the decision to have children is influenced by a multitude of factors, including housing availability, quality education, and healthcare. Therefore, for a sustainable effect in demographic policy, it's necessary to improve family support at different levels.
In conclusion, while the direct impact of early retirement incentives on second-child decisions in Russia is not yet definitively established, general economic and demographic theory suggests a potential positive influence. To fully understand this relationship, targeted searches in demographic economics or Russian social policy research databases would be necessary to provide authoritative evidence. Furthermore, initiatives like increasing maternity leave payments and simplifying the early retirement process for parents of many children could serve as potential incentives to increase birth rates, but a combination of different measures, including initiatives from employers, would be required to significantly improve the situation for parents and contribute to an increase in the birth rate.
Science and education-and-self-development can play a crucial role in addressing Russia's declining fertility rates. Researchers at the Institute of Socio-Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences propose increasing maternity leave payments for subsequent children, leveraging finance and business principles to incentivize families to have more children. On the other hand, Petr Shcherbachenko highlights the significance of health-and-wellness, advocating for opportunities that allow parents to combine childcare with work, which could lead to a more balanced family life and potentially encourage having more children. In this context, education-and-self-development initiatives that promote work-life balance and healthcare services that support parents and children might also contribute to an increase in birth rates in Russia.
