Expert Opinion: Offering ‘Rewards’ to Two-Child Couples Ineffective in Boosting Population Growth

Various measures have been implemented in regions like Tien Giang, Hau Giang, Long An, and Bac Lieu in the Mekong Delta to combat declining fertility rates. One such initiative includes providing cash bonuses or credits to women who bear at least two children before turning 35.

Despite these efforts, the fertility situation has shown little improvement over the years. Professor Dr. Giang Thanh Long, an esteemed expert in population and development at the National Economics University, shared insights on potential strategies to bolster the fertility rate.

The younger generation is confronted with numerous challenges, particularly exacerbated by the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic and rapid shifts in economic dynamics within Vietnam and abroad.

Issues such as job instability, economic uncertainties, escalating living costs, and concerns about childcare amid urban settings and migrant populations are amplifying worries among young couples.

Deciding to have children prompts a series of considerations including prenatal care, birthing facilities, childcare support, and educational choices from primary to tertiary levels.

Several neighboring nations like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore have rolled out pro-natal policies encompassing financial aid, maternity leave entitlements, and postnatal benefits for couples. Yet, these schemes have fallen short of their anticipated impacts.

Rather than fixating on government incentives, couples are compelled to deliberate various factors like daily expenditure, housing expenses, career progression, income augmentation, and educational pursuits, leading many to opt for single-child families.

In South Korea, 2023 marked the fifth consecutive year with a fertility rate below 1, indicating a lower count of newborns relative to women of childbearing age. Japan has witnessed a stagnant fertility rate with minor fluctuations. The government has fine-tuned educational and healthcare policies besides instigating media campaigns to stimulate procreation.

A recent sociological survey unearthed that young individuals are preoccupied with life preparations, diverting their leisure time to pursuits other than seeking life partners. Some prefer utilizing spare time for rest to enhance work efficiency, while others expressed disinterest in seeking companionship.

Proposals to reduce working hours are plausible in tandem with escalated productivity to maintain output levels. Should such cuts not be counterbalanced with productivity enhancements, there’s a risk of diminishing production capacity and impeding societal asset creation.

If productivity remains stagnant as work hours dwindle, employers might resist salary increments fearing enterprise strain. This could potentially culminate in layoffs if operating burdens intensify.

Childbearing decisions are predominantly influenced by individual circumstances. Favorable conditions serve as the primary determinant for expanding families, making cash incentives insignificant in swaying childbirth choices.

Personal views hint at bonuses serving as symbolic gestures underscoring local authorities’ concern for residents’ welfare.