What one country's experiment says about attempts to boost birth rates

Article excerpt

Hungary's aggressive push to increase birth rates through cash incentives and family benefits initially worked, boosting births in the early 2010s. But the gains proved temporary, fertility rates have since declined again, undercutting the government's core strategy. The pattern offers a cautionary lesson for countries like South Korea and Japan, which are pursuing similar pro-natalist policies as populations age. Experts suggest that without addressing deeper issues like childcare accessibility, housing costs, and job security, financial incentives alone cannot sustain higher birth rates long-term.