Hungary: No taxes for women who have children. A baby boom.

But also new daycare centers, parental leave for grandparents, and zero-interest loans. This is how Hungary's birth rate is growing by 5 percent annually.

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IN HUNGARY, NO TAXES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CHILDREN

Not all governments just make promises, on climate or family matters, but some also manage to follow through on action. I visited Hungary and better understood the reasons behind the broad consensus enjoyed by a prime minister like Viktor Orbán, whom we rightly criticize throughout Europe for his rather bizarre interpretation of democracy . And for being within a union of states where everything is fine when it comes to cashing in on European funds, but walls are erected, and people distance themselves from others, when it comes to implementing common immigration policies.

IN HUNGARY, NO TAXES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CHILDREN

There's one aspect of Orban's policy that I find very convincing and that should be studied in our country too: concrete measures to support the family . To avoid squandering this central resource of society and to reverse a demographic trend that, in Italy's case, is turning us into a country of and for old people. The Hungarian prime minister is serious, and is putting a lot of money on the table to convince women to have more children . The latest allocation, approximately 1,4 billion euros, even eliminates taxes for mothers who give birth or have large families. The tax discount is significant and reaches a ceiling that allows a female employee, for example, to take home her net salary, without any deductions in terms of taxes to be paid to the state. Do you realize the importance of such a measure? And what value could it have for working women who earn a living in Italy?

READ ALSO: The ideal age to have a child is between 25 and 30. Life is getting longer, but you shouldn't wait too long.

NEW KINDERGARTENS IN HUNGARY

The tax cuts are complemented by a series of other measures benefiting women. The increase in the minimum wage, from €465 to €565 per month, will primarily benefit women, who in Hungary also receive lower wages than men. Then there are the kindergartens: another 21 places are under construction and scheduled for completion by 2022. Zero-interest family loans of up to €30 are also available. And parental leave to support women raising children is available not only to husbands, but also to grandparents.

ORBAN'S FAMILY POLICY

Personally, I have no particular sympathy for Orban. On the contrary. And it's clear that in these measures for women, children, and families, Orban has also taken into account a significant electoral aspect, given that Hungary will go to the polls in 2022. But the effectiveness of this part of his social policy , and not only that, must be fully recognized . It's no coincidence that in recent years, Hungary, in a very challenging global economic context, has continued to grow and seen a birth rate increase of 5,5 percent per year. How we'd love to see something similar in Italy too...

STATE AID FOR WOMEN WHO DECIDE TO HAVE CHILDREN: 

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