mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Tomorrow is a big day in central Russia. From CNN:
“Gov. Sergei Morozov has decreed Sept. 12 a Day of Conception and is giving couples time off from work to procreate. Couples who give birth nine months later on Russia’s national day – June 12 – will receive money, cars, refrigerators and other prizes.”
Providing procreation incentives is common practice for areas in the midst of a demographic crisis. Here are some other deals offered to the child-bearing masses:
Elsewhere in Russia: The region of Ahtubinsk has offered young couples a new house if they could prove they were fertile and not alcoholics, and had three children in five years.
Quebec: If mothers give birth within five years of graduation, the government will pay half their college loans. Quebec has also promised to enact a four-day workweek for parents with young children. It offers baby bonuses of $500 for the first child, $1,000 for the second and $7,500 for third and subsequent children, and will offer interest free loans of up to $5,000 to purchase a home.
Japan: The farm town of Yamatsuri pays parents $9,200 per birth — $4,600 three months after the baby is born, and the rest over 10 years.
France: French parents have it good. Perks include three-year paid parental leave with guaranteed job protection; universal, full-time preschool starting at age three; subsidized daycare before age three; stipends for in-home nannies; and monthly childcare allowances that increase with the number of children per family.
Germany: A parent who leaves the workforce after a child is born will be paid two-thirds of his or her net wage, up to a maximum $2,375 per month. One parent can claim 12 months, or the benefit can be split between two parents for 14 months.
Cyprus: The government of Cyprus has proposed giving couples the equivalent of $46,000 U.S. dollars for having a third child.
If you’re the product of a birth incentive program – or just know of one – tell us about it.
Instead of offering incentives for procreating, why aren’t these areas that are so desperate to improve their demographics offering incentives for adopting children from overpopulated areas?
posted by Lindsay D on 9-11-2007 at 2:33 pm
My first child is due in November. My wife and I took advantage of a birth incentive program available world-wide…
Sex.
posted by Witty Nickname on 9-11-2007 at 2:48 pm
That’s easy … they want to maintain ethnicity. The Japanese wouldn’t be to excited about a whole pile of babies from Bangladesh joining the gene pool. Ditto for the Western European countries which have very low native birthrates and zillions of Moslem immigrants already pouring in yearly. Consider it the Revenge of the Moops.
posted by Sid Morrison on 9-11-2007 at 2:52 pm
I’d have to suspect that it is 1 part Xenophobia, in that they are afraid of losing their cultural identity, including their racial identity, and 1 part practical, in that it might be even more difficult to keep kids with foreign roots from ultimately leaving the region once they become adults.
posted by Daniel H on 9-11-2007 at 2:53 pm
One caveat to the French system, however, is that the “paid” part of the three-year parental leave is fairly low, meaning that it is advantageous only for workers who make minimum wage or just a bit more.
I will vouch for the subsidized day care and full-time preschool, though. That’s one thing the French do right!
posted by Alison on 9-11-2007 at 7:13 pm
None of these financial incentives even approach the expense of a child. Either you want to be a parent, or you don’t.
posted by Miss Cellania on 9-11-2007 at 10:53 pm
I believe the birth incentive program under which I was conceived was known as “The Pill Wasn’t Invented Yet And Abortion Was Still Illegal”. It was popular in the early 1960’s.
posted by Lulu on 9-11-2007 at 11:19 pm
I disagree with Miss Cellania’s last statement. From my observations I think many people have children simply because it’s part of what they’re supposed to do: Get married, get dog, buy house, have kids, go to beach in summer.
I feel pretty sure that alot of people I see haven’t given it much thought at all. It’s like some taken for granted social obligation.
Instead of offering initiatives to child bearing, my ideal would be to restrict to only those who demonstrate sufficient awareness of the importance of raising children.
Someday, when I’m world dictator…
posted by Bassman on 9-12-2007 at 5:52 am
Along the same lines as Bassman…
There are a lot of people out there who just shouldn’t be allowed to continue their gene pool. I’ve often thought that becoming a parent should require a license in which you have to show that you will not screw up your kid so badly that it can’t be undone. Obviously though, logistics would be an issue…
posted by BeckyJ on 9-12-2007 at 8:41 am
I think the Russian government should’ve consulted with an ob/gyn before planning this event.
From the moment of conception to birth its about 40 weeks (10 months).
I’m sure whoever was privy to this bit of info probably cheated and started before “Conception Day”. Cheaters!
posted by Sweet Pea on 9-12-2007 at 9:52 am
I agree with SweetPea but want to point out that the due date is calculated from the first day of the woman’s last period - which is usually 14 days before conception (assuming a 28 day cycle). thus, from the time of conception to birth is 38 weeks. Even with this number, June 12th is still a week off.
I am so glad I do not have similar observations as those of Bassman. Becoming a parent is _scary_ and no matter what the IQ level, it is not just something one does like adopt a dog.
posted by micx on 9-12-2007 at 1:25 pm
Australia: USD $3400 (AUD $4133) per child born. Paid in a lump sum. Indexed to inflation.
Basically the Australian government is buying plasma TVs for the rednecks.
posted by steveg on 9-12-2007 at 9:26 pm
“I am so glad I do not have similar observations as those of Bassman. Becoming a parent is _scary_ and no matter what the IQ level, it is not just something one does like adopt a dog.”
If you did have views like mine you’d be unhappy with your views?
Yes, becoming a perent is frightening (and wonderful!) It is also a HUGE responsibility. And many people DO seem to give little realistic thought to it.
As for the dog analogy: If you were to adopt one from the shelter with which my mother volunteers, you’d have to meet some requirements and they’d make a couple of home visits. So, it’d be more difficult than having a baby.
Truthfully, I wouldn’t regulate pregnancy, but I do wish people would treat child rearing with more care and thought than they seem to do.
posted by Bassman on 9-13-2007 at 6:04 am
I disagree with Sweet Pea.
If I did my math right, 40 weeks is 280 days. 280 divided by 30 (the average number of days in a month), that makes 9 1/3 months.
Now, I know that I was about two weeks early, and lots of people I know were, so I think the whole 9 months straight thing would have worked pretty much.
Also, with what mixc said, it seems like for a perfectly normal on-time birth, the Russian plan works well…
I think..
posted by Anne on 9-15-2007 at 3:08 pm
The physical and emotional cost of having a child can no way be equated in monetary terms. But I am sure day care and babysitting services would definitely help.
posted by jessyz on 7-8-2008 at 3:08 pm