How to have more kids - policy edition

Denmark's prime minister has announced that she wants more children to be born.

It has been widely known that the birth rate in Europe is declining, and it is affecting and will continue to affect individual nations in the long term. It is easy to believe that it is the fault of one gender or the other, but that doesn't change the conditions we face, quite simply. We need to deal with the reality we are in, namely that too few children are being born.

I will make suggestions regarding the country I live in, namely Denmark, and I have been thinking for some time about what would be advantageous for the families with children out there who are trying to do their best. I present some proposals and hope that some politicians will seize the opportunity for positive change, but also that there will be a focus on the individual family with children.

For as everyone knows, having children is costly, from an economic perspective, but there is so much more to having children that cannot be measured in terms of economy. In reality, it is somewhat strange to focus solely on the economic aspect when children have so much more to offer in people's lives. At the same time, you are creating something that cannot be covered under the economic flag.

Today there is a system that actually rewards families with children for separating, so mom and dad can live apart. In fact, it would be better for us to move away from this for several reasons. One of the things that is quickly noticed is that each individual person will of course need a new place to live (an apartment), along with the subsidy schemes that follow in the wake of this arrangement. Moreover, there is a shortage of housing around Denmark, and yes, one could also focus on the fact that it is actually better for the environment, because singles have – if you calculate it – a larger carbon footprint on the earth than couples. And that children growing up with two parents is healthier in the long run. Both for the children and society in general.

The proposals I present here should only apply to families and not singles. This has to do with the fact that it should be an advantage to be a couple rather than single, and I know I will probably be criticized for this. That's just how it must be. I believe that for each child a family has, 2 extra weeks of vacation should be given. At the same time, there should be an opportunity for the couple – only them – to go out to eat, where public personnel supervise the child or children.

One could look at the concept of a 'Night Nanny', which is actually an interesting aspect. But also to give couples advantages in terms of buying a home. Because it is cheaper for people to continue being a couple rather than separate, and if we want more children to be born, there need to be some benefits for those who make sacrifices for the greater community, which is what our society is. How the final solution should look, well, that would have to be determined politically.