In Latvia and other countries 80% of the population recognizes that children and family – it’s worth. Now, however, the number of births is low, so you need to think about how you can motivate people give birth to children, today, July 6 at the forum “a demographic catastrophe of Latvia: problems and solutions,” said sotsioantropolog Fold Sedlenieks, The correspondent BakuToday .
“In such a situation does not need to tell people about how children need, it’s worth, as shown by various studies, these are people already understand. The big question – how to motivate people to have children, why you need to do this” – he said. Sotsioantropolog stressed that one of the reasons why people are so reluctant to have children – that the child is expensive.
“It is clear that the child – an investment, and this is a very expensive investment. The child needs to invest a lot of work and time needed to educate the child, the child needs food and clothes” – said Sedlenieks.
He also pointed out that primary education in Latvia is more expensive than higher education. “The private kindergarten in a month costs about 426.86 euros, while studying at university – around 284.57 euros per month. Is a vicious circle – the more expensive the child, the less people have the desire to have children,” – he said. “So all the nursery schools should be free,” – he said.
For residents of Latvia are also very important that children think about their neighbors, their friends. Hence, these children need to invest more and more money. Sedlenieks also stressed that a child in Latvia and in other countries – a kind of confirmation status, but to confirm it, the family does not need more than one child. Many people in Latvia do not want to have children because they doubt that the partner can be trusted and in a few years will not have to disperse and then – much to pay child support. Sedlenieks noted that in European countries there is tendency in the countries where child support is less than the birth rate is higher so it would be wise to consider how to reduce them.
In turn, a demographer Ilmar Mezhs said that if people went abroad for close to retirement age, it would be a relief. He noted that in Ireland and other countries in search of better jobs went primarily people who are of working age from 18 to 45 years. Therefore, the state not only loses its population, but also significantly increases the likelihood that those who left, the children born abroad and they will not come back home, which will further exacerbate the demographic situation in the country. So, if people close to retirement age went and found a job there, it would be a relief, says Mezhs.
If the situation does not change, in 2035 in Latvia for more than 30% of the population will be people older than 60 years. “Ten or twenty years to an employee will be two pensioners, which will further increase the tax burden, and this in turn can cause yet another wave of departures,” – explained Mezhs.
Mezhs said that now most of those who were born overseas – it is children who left Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. In addition, a demographer said that individuals and families who are working abroad for more than five years, mostly not going to return to Latvia.
Demographer also stressed that the birth rate can not only affect financial security. In Europe, in countries with higher wages, demographic indicators still negative, while in poorer countries outside Europe, the inhabitants are born more children. Mezhs also acknowledged that in the next few years should begin to pursue more active policies to promote fertility, because if it is not done in the near future, stimulate growth of the population of Latvia will become even more difficult.
Demographer also said that one problem is the lack of kindergartens, as many parents can not afford to send their children to private kindergartens. “If we had even a tenth of the cost after the South Bridge invested in the construction of kindergartens, perhaps this situation would be resolved,” – said Mezhs.
Demographer predicted that this year’s birth rate is still lower than in the past. He noted that now is the best time to improve the country began the demographic situation, because so many people aged 25 to 30 years – this is the age people are usually born children.
Preliminary census results show that the number of inhabitants of Latvia had fallen to about 1.9 million people. Mezhs admits that the country could go about 300 thousand inhabitants.
Also, a demographer Ilmar Mezhs said that within 3-5 years of Latvia’s large-scale immigration is not threatened. Yes, it is not required, although in the coming years will be decided, whether it is necessary to be in 10 years. He said the law “the richer the country, the fewer children” in Europe for some time not working and there is an opposite trend: the rich countries to invest in children and family.
According Mezhsa, queues in kindergartens, the unavailability of a free lunch, the pension system contributed to the fact that the families for financial reasons it is difficult to decide on the second or third child, so the population continues to decline. This will compensate for mass immigration, the conditions which must be simplified.
According to demographer in the future will be virtually the same as what language tells the doctor if the patient in the hospital no one could come up during the day due to lack of manpower. Already running only slightly more than retirees, and a generation will have a different way.
According to Mezhsa, in Estonia the successful solution of demographic problems associated with targeted social policy. “Half the cost of Southbridge – so much invested in Estonia of children and young families”, – he added.
