Spotlight on Laer: An Exception to Germany's Fertility Rate
Spotlight on Laer
Laer is a small town in Germany that perfectly illustrates how attitudes towards families and respect for women’s work in and out of the home can affect the birthrate.
Birthrate
- The average birthrate in Laer is 13.5 babies per 1,000 people.
- The average birthrate in the rest of Germany is 8.4 babies per 1,000
people.
Family Policy
- Family policy in Laer provides opportunities for mothers to work.
- Laer’s citizens support mothers who choose to work.
- Family-friendly policies encourage young couples and young parents to live in Laer.
- Family policy in Laer was designed to allow mothers to work, by providing numerous public child care facilities.
The town of Laer is an excellent example of how family policy, community attitudes, and opportunities for maternal employment can affect the birthrate.
Image courtesy of flickr.com
Reference
De Pommereau, Isabella. 2005. “German Town Reworks Family Policy to Reverse a Sinking Birthrate.” The Associated Press, May 3. Retrieved October 10, 2006. (http://lexisnexis.com).
