This is how the Kremlin wants to encourage children. “Ineffective and stupid”
The topic of birth rate is ubiquitous in Russia Vladimir Putin. Politicians regularly present Bizten proposalsto increase it. For example, MP Władisław Dawankow recently suggested introducing a discount on “cozy places” in the cinema to bring couples closer. Another demanded the introduction of the “Demographic Week”, paid and free from work, so that couples could rest, reduce stress and conceive children.
A member of the Kremlin party one Russia proposed in the parliament the introduction of a tax penalty of EUR 400 (PLN 1.7 thousand) per month for childless men over 40 years of age and women over 35 years old. Another MP suggested the introduction of a Sunday ban on the sale of alcohol so that men would devote themselves to their family instead of drinking.
Aleksiej Rakaska is one of the most respected demographers in Russia. He works and lives in his homeland, but critically assesses the government's actions. Especially since his work is becoming more and more difficult: from the beginning of June the authorities almost do not publish demographic data. – In 2020, for the first time, we noticed that the data was hidden in connection with the pandemic of Coronavirus. In April 2020, the authorities stopped publishing statistics for the main causes of death for monthly – says Rakha.
Then the war broke out in Ukraine and the authorities stopped publishing statistics regarding death. Demograph criticizes that in the data from 2023, various causes of death are no longer given separately. This obscures the number of victims of war. Murders, suicide, accidents and missing people without a trace now go to one register. In the meantime, the “Demography” column completely disappeared from the statistical reports of the Statistical Office.
The Russian leader Putin has long realized that the low birth rate is problem for the development of the country. In mid -July he met with high -ranking politicians at a “conference on social issues”. However, the topic of what the fathers from the front, physically and mentally marked for society, was not raised. The issue of what death or emigration of hundreds of thousands of young men means for the labor market.
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Instead, the conference decided about renovation of obstetric clinics, introduction of tax breaks for families and assistance for studying mothers. In addition, high prizes for so -called heroic mothers – women with 10 or more children.
Maternity capital
Rakha considers these initiatives ineffective and at most cosmetic. Says that there are many funds now, but many of them are “Unrealistic, ineffective or simply stupid”. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the great birth crisis in the 1990s Two strategies They turned out to be effective: subsidized mortgage loans for young families and maternity capital. The latter is a means that came into force in 2007 by mother, regardless of the place of residence and property, after the birth of the second child the equivalent of 7,000 up to 8,000 euro (29 thousand to 34 thousand PLN). This brought the effect – the number of births increased.
With the arrival of Coronavirus's pandemic, the legal situation has changed – since 2020 maternity capital has been granted from the first child. Raka can not understand this to this day. If the money is paid at the first child, the birth birth rate does not increase, “and at the same time the number of second children decreases – People are deprived of motivation to have more children” – says the demographer.
Although other experts also express criticism, Moscow maintains the regulation. Rakasa claims that nobody knows demographics in the government. “But they don't want to admit their own mistakes,” says the expert.
Instead, it is more and more often used repressive means. In November 2024, a state pride, a Russian parliament, adopted a law prohibiting the so -called childless propaganda. Since then, propagating a childless lifestyle on the Internet and the media is illegal and threatens with high penalties. Other politicians propose a difficulty or prohibiting abortion.
Problem with the Russian population
The war in Ukraine has an impact primarily on the demographic factor, which is mortality. According to Raka, it caused a decrease in the average life expectancy of Russian men by about two years. However, this has almost no influence on the birth rate, because in this case two factors work simultaneously. – The fact that people die on the front and men are separated from their wives means that they do not have sex. This reduces birth rate – says Rakha.
On the other hand The Russian state pays huge amounts to soldiers and families of the fallen. “Money has a very positive impact on the birth rate,” says the demographer. He refers to a study conducted by the Moscow University of Economics, which showed that as a result of the war 11 percent. women stopped giving birth, but 10 percent It became pregnant. – Ultimately, both factors almost endure each other – notes the expert.
Russian with a child in the center of Moscow, July 2024 (illustrative photo)Alexander Nmenov / AFP
The main reason for the low number of children is Demographic heritage of the 90s During the economic crisis after the collapse of the Soviet Union, too few children were born. Currently, they have reached the reproductive age, but their number is not enough to replace generations from the Soviet period, which were characterized by a higher fertility.
“In the next 10 years, the Russian population will decrease approx. 7 million people” – estimates Rakha. In addition to the birth and mortality indicator, migration also plays an important role in demographic development. However, because Russia is becoming a less attractive country for immigrants, this does not help in this situation.
Absurd ideas
According to Rakza, even from Central Asia, which has always been a source of cheap labor, there are more and more people. Since the terrorist attack in Moscow in 2024. Immigration conditions have become much more stringent. In addition, racism is a huge problem.
To fight the demographic crisis, public officials are still inventing new ideas. A politician from the Kaługa region called women to wear a mini skirts more frequently – to improve the birth rate. The Minister of Health from the coastal country encouraged young couples to have sex in the workplace.
Others offer birth lotions: newborn children would have a chance to win houses and cars. Other representatives of the government demand a ban on the use of erotic toys and dismissal of women in prison at the time of the birth of a child.
Recently, the patriots presented the Chairwoman of the Family Committee. A proposal to subject a special observation of lonely men: who for three months does not have a romantic date, should be incorporated into the army or punished in a different way. This proposal caused such a storm on the Russian internet that a pride MP felt forced to clarify the matter. He assured that the state would not create a register of bachelors.
