Politics are primarily influenced by the older generation of voters
In a bid to support families and address the declining birth rate in Germany, policymakers are considering a range of measures.
An investment in education, it seems, is a sound strategy. Research indicates that after eleven years, an investment in education achieves a return on investment of about 14 percent, surpassing the individual returns of classic investments. This underscores the importance of investing in education to foster a skilled workforce and encourage family formation.
One of the key policy options under consideration is facilitating family reunification for skilled workers. Recent changes easing family reunification by removing requirements such as proof of adequate living space and extending eligibility to parents and parents-in-law of Blue Card EU holders can help attract and retain skilled workers, indirectly supporting family formation and birth rates.
Another approach is expanding financial support and welfare benefits. Current plans to cut housing support for the poorest households under the Bürgergeld welfare program threaten family stability. Strengthening or expanding housing subsidies and direct family allowances could alleviate financial pressures on families raising children.
Promoting comprehensive child care and parental leave policies is also crucial. While not detailed in the search results, established research and policies in Germany emphasize expanding affordable childcare, flexible working arrangements, and generous parental leave as critical to encouraging higher birth rates.
Addressing migration and family reunification restrictions carefully is another consideration. The suspension of family reunification for refugees with subsidiary protection status for two years may contribute to reduced family support for some groups, suggesting policy reassessment could help mitigate negative demographic effects.
However, the idea of conscripting everyone, as proposed by the CDU, is unlikely to be accepted by parents. Instead, the focus appears to be on implementing a system with flexible working hours, which could strengthen both the economy and social cohesion.
The birth rate in Berlin, for instance, is around 1.1 children per woman, which can lead to a halving of the population within a generation. A family vote could shift the focus of politics towards families and young people, making them the most influential voter group.
The new federal government is focusing on defense capability and infrastructure to boost the economy. However, the political focus on defense may exacerbate the phenomenon of families, particularly women, being expected to take on all care work.
The desire for children usually crystallizes between the ages of 29 and 31, but often fails due to economic conditions. The development of young people, including migrant children, takes time, as seen with the Syrian refugees who arrived in Germany in 2015 and are now between 20-21 years old.
Friedrich Merz has expressed concerns that the federal government may make harsh cuts in social areas, which could negatively impact families. The economy and society are interconnected, and the better people are educated and free to make decisions about their lives, the more they benefit.
In some eastern German villages, demographic upheavals are already noticeable, with many residents aging and no children living in whole streets. Political maturity is not solely a matter of age, and expanding the vote to include children's voices is a necessary step towards ensuring their needs are represented.
Women's employment suffers, while social pressure increases when the family is neglected. Parents could assume their children's votes like any other responsibility, similar to managing child benefit. Additional money for families is not typically spent on consumer goods or luxury, but directly benefits the children, particularly for single parents.
In conclusion, a combination of policies that make it easier for families—especially skilled workers and immigrants—to reunite, reduce financial burdens through enhanced social welfare and housing support, and improve work-life balance to encourage childbearing could help address Germany's declining birth rate. These are complementary approaches that research and examples from other countries have shown to be effective.
