Research on FERTILITY

The motivation for this research was a newspaper report stating that the Czech population is dying out. We were curious about what might help reverse this trend and what changes or reforms the population would welcome. We asked ourselves
how to bridge the gap caused by drastic demographic change, when there will be significantly more people of retirement age than those entering the workforce.
Ultimately, we approached the issue as a set of reforms that could have a positive impact on our future.

We surveyed attitudes toward parenthood and the potential benefits for parents, the possibility of shortening the school years by one year, raising the retirement age, or
deciding for oneself how long to work.

The quantitative research focused on the following areas:

1. Two years of mandatory preschool aimed at teaching children to read, write, and do arithmetic.
2. Eight years of elementary school.
3. Flexible higher education, microloans, and lifelong learning.
4. Strong family support during the first two years: 400,000 crowns per year for the parent providing care.
5. The working partner’s taxes and social security contributions are directed toward the parent who cares for the child at home, or toward a grandparent, if applicable.
6. Three or more children = zero income tax.
7. Retirement age linked to the number of children.
8. Lower social security contributions for parents of children.
9.  Increase in the standard retirement age.
10. Grandparents are also eligible for parental leave.

Research has largely confirmed that the introduction of significant changes is not met with much trust or enthusiasm among the general public. On the other hand, however, the proposed reforms did not provoke any extraordinary opposition. Implementing them will require strong political leadership.

One positive observation is that Czechs consider it normal to have children; a child is not viewed as a “project,” but as a natural part of life. In some cases, however, the introduction of various support measures has actually met with resistance.

Data per request