Nordic countries have no minimum wage laws. Sweden uses school vouchers; and its higher ed students use school loans.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

Please Google birth rate + Finland

They are in crisis mode because their young couples are not having children. They are postponing having kids, having fewer kids, and some are having no kids. Some say its due to high taxation and couples dont feel like they can maintain their current lifestyle and have kids, but that is just opinions I've read. I have no facts on that.

I have also read that Finland is importing Single pregnant women from Russia. I'm serious.

The countries with the most generous social welfare systems typically are among the lowest birth rates, contrary to a perception that people breed for welfare benefits. In 2016, Finland had a birth rate of 1.65 vs 1.80 in the US.

In contrast, Niger comes is at 7.24.

As I understand it, Lakewood Township, NJ now has the highest birth rate in the world. Very common for a 35 year old woman to have 10, 12 or more children.

[middle-aged mom]

Originally Posted by travis t

From what I've read, Sweden also has health care vouchers. When Speaker Paul Ryan proposed a similar system for Medicare, there was a cacophony of howling.

Why does the far-left hate Sweden????

That plan called for capping vouchers to buy private insurance at $15,000/ year.

Ryan forgot to check with private insurers who have no interest in being the primary insurer of elderly healthcare risks, which is why we have Medicare.

When the private sector opts out, government tends to step in.

[InformedConsent]

Originally Posted by middle-aged mom

The countries with the most generous social welfare systems typically are among the lowest birth rates, contrary to a perception that people breed for welfare benefits.

While overall, that may seem true, it is in fact actually true that in the US, women on public assistance have a 3 times higher birth rate than women (with or without partners) who are self-supporting (source US Census Bureau). That makes sense considering Medicaid pays for 49% of all US births, annually, and the US poverty rate is only 12.3%.

In 2016, Finland had a birth rate of 1.65 vs 1.80 in the US.

In contrast, Niger comes is at 7.24.

As I understand it, Lakewood Township, NJ now has the highest birth rate in the world. Very common for a 35 year old woman to have 10, 12 or more children.

How many of those women are on public assistance? Lakewood Township has a 30.1% poverty rate. MUCH higher than the US poverty rate.