The birth rate in Austria has reached a historic low with 1.31 children per woman. The German sociologist Jutta Allmendinger sees an urgent need for action with a view to this development and calls for a fundamental rescheduling of social structures- mainly in family, labor and education policy.
During an event of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (Öaw) in collaboration with Statistics Austria, Allmender spoke on Monday evening for an “out-of-the-box” thinking. The goal must be to think more radically and to make CV more flexible. Phases of education, profitable employment, child razes, maintaining family members or retirement must alternate better during the course of life.
Birth rate at a historic low point
Caroline Berghammer, demographer at the Öaw, confirmed that the birth rate has reached a historic low point. The subject also concerns the Fiscal Council of Austria. The chairman Christoph Badelt warned in March of a “demographic bomb” due to the rapid aging of society.
Statistics Austria General Manager Tobias Thomas Prediction: The share of more than 65-year-olds will increase from around 20 to 30 percent in 2060. Already in 2040 only two people of working age have come to a pensioner.
Women often before insoluble decisions
According to Allmendinger, women are often confronted with the choice: traditional mother image, care for parents or their own professional safety. Many therefore choose children or fewer children. The load of compatibility is still mainly on the shoulders of women. In Germany, the average waiting time for a spa square for mothers is two years, according to Allmendinger.
A central problem is the unequal financial burden of income -dependent childcare. Many families just couldn’t afford it if the well -tempered man goes on pregnancy leave. According to Allmendinger, an increase in the reimbursement for childcare can remedy this.
Men don’t want to live like their fathers
Allmendinger referred to studies that show that many men today want to live a more active father photo. However, politically this potential often underestimates. A more family -friendly policy must therefore be specifically aimed at men to achieve structural changes.
Child makes a good idea as an idea model
Another proposal from Allmendinger: the voting right. Voices from people with children can be weighed more to increase the political representation of families. This can lead to better protection and more political attention to family -relevant subjects in the long term.
Skepticism for immigration and retirement age increase
As part of the “Science Barometer”, the ÖAW interviewed the population about the challenges of demographic change. 53 percent stated that they were strong or very interested. The biggest concerns concern health care, the shortage of trained employees and the financing of the pension system.
As preferences, the respondents mentioned more unemployed integration into the labor market and a better reconciliation of work and family for women. The approval of the determination of private pension was also surprisingly high. On the other hand, there were little support, targeted immigration, an increase in retirement age and higher social security contributions.
President of Öaw and Minister of former Education Heinz Faßmann sees a clear dilemma here: “Immigration is not a popular form of dealing with the aging population.” At the same time, the political risk is great to tackle uncomfortable but necessary reforms.
Source: Krone
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