Supporting increase in maternity grants for all children and reducing mortgage rates for families with multiple children proposed by Tolstoy
### Russia's Ongoing Efforts to Boost Fertility Rates and Counter Urbanisation
In an attempt to address the country's demographic challenges, Russia is exploring a range of proposals and implementing initiatives aimed at stimulating fertility and countering urbanisation. Here's a look at some key developments in the areas of maternity capital, family support systems, and housing affordability for large families:
#### 1. **Maternity Capital** - **Proposal**: Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, Pyotr Tolstoy, has proposed that the maternity capital should be calculated for each child, not limited to the first two. This suggests a potential increase in the amount of maternity capital for subsequent children to incentivise larger families. - **Current Status**: While discussions on this proposal are ongoing, the current system provides maternity capital for families having a second child, with the possibility of an increase being considered[3].
#### 2. **Family Support System** - **Proposals and Initiatives**: Russia has introduced a new demographic strategy that includes measures to support families financially. This includes policies like paying schoolgirls to have babies, which aligns with broader pronatalist policies aimed at increasing birth rates[1]. - **Current Initiatives**: The support for large families might also involve additional financial assistance, extended parental leave, and other family-friendly policies aimed at easing the economic burden of raising children.
#### 3. **Housing Affordability for Large Families** - **Proposals and Initiatives**: Although specific recent proposals on housing affordability are not detailed, Russia has historically provided preferences for housing allocations and subsidies to large and low-income families. Policies might include priority access to subsidized housing or mortgage subsidies to help families afford larger living spaces. - **Current Status**: There is no specific mention of new initiatives solely focused on housing affordability for large families in the recent data. However, existing policies and potential future measures could still address this issue indirectly through broader family support systems.
In addition to these proposals, Tolstoy has suggested that to genuinely address demographic issues, life in rural areas should be made more comfortable than in cities. He believes that support from relatives and friends is readily available daily in rural areas, which could be a significant draw for families opting for a rural lifestyle.
Tolstoy also notes that new housing records reported by ministers primarily drive population migration to large cities, not family growth. He proposes that with each new child, mortgage interest rates should be reduced for families, which could help alleviate the financial burden of accommodating larger families.
However, Tolstoy does not express any specific changes to the maternity capital system or mortgage interest rates for families with more children in these discussions. The focus remains on finding ways to make rural life more appealing and affordable for families, with the hope of encouraging a reverse migration trend from cities.
- The ongoing discussions around Russia's demographic challenges in policy-and-legislation include considerations for expanding the maternity capital system to offer more financial support for larger families, as proposed by Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Pyotr Tolstoy.
- In the broader context of Russian politics, the general-news reports have highlighted the introduction of various family support systems and initiatives aimed at increasing fertility rates and attracting families to rural areas, as part of the country's overall strategy to counter urbanisation.
