Do you believe that industrial countries should use fiscal measures – e.g. taxes to discourage natality?
It depends which country. OPT does not believe that financial disincentives, even if politically feasible, are likely to be more effective than financial incentives have been in increasing the birth rate in countries where governments have pursued a pro-natalist policy. In Italy, which has a very low birth rate, financial incentives to raise births were introduced in 2003, but the effects have yet to be seen. In thinking about financial incentives to raise birth rates, few policymakers quantify the effects on population growth and the environment or realise that young people are dependents (in relation to the workforce) just as old people are. No policy will work unless it is of practical use and coincides with people’s wishes. The important thing is to try to change attitudes through education: many couples, if they knew the effect that large families have on population growth and therefore the environment, might decide to stop at one or two children. Where religious belief denies acc
