Thursday, February 26, 2009

High birth rate in France

France has a high birth rate, compared to other European countries. I asked a French friend for the reason. He identified two key factors:

1. The income tax system favours large families. The larger the family, the lower the effective tax rate. Some high income earners does not have to pay any income tax, if they have a few children.

2. There are adequate child care facilities in the community and the workplace.  This is supplemented by a system of nannies who take care of children in their homes. The cost of the nany is largely borne by the state.


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3 comments:

  1. ParkaFebruary 27, 2009 1:03 PM

    That's a good idea. I won't bet on it happening soon until this baby problem becomes a crisis in Singapore.

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  2. ConcernedFebruary 28, 2009 1:39 AM

    The French people (both male and female) are more amorous and have a high libido.

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  3. Chien weiFebruary 28, 2009 4:49 AM

    singapore has tax cuts for families with children too, but i am not sure whether the french have more tax cuts...

    i am more interested in the second point about adequate child care facilities mostly paid for by the state.

    perhaps the government can bear more of the cost of tertiary education, since they already provided so many scholarships to foreigners, why not help singaporeans?

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