In the debate over the use of birth control (is there one?), proponents for inhibiting life will often relay concern for the world’s inability to support more people. Yet, in this week’s WORLD, the problem of overpopulation seems far away. In France, the government is actually willing to pay couples who have a third child. (One of the parents must take a one-year unpaid leave of absence to care for the child in order to receive the $916 monthly stipend.) But the fertility in France (1.9 children) is even higher than some other countries in the European Union. Greece, Italy, and Spain remain between 1.3-1.4.
I wonder what portion of France’s “high” birth rate is due to north African immigrants….would be interesting to see what the birth rate of the native born is vs. immigrants and so on.
I thought that $900/month would be awfully nice for my third and fourth daughters, though. :^)
I live in France, most white couples, where I live, have two children. France is a ‘Catholic’ country and families of 12 children, amongst the white population, are not unheard of.
We have three children.