Japan is an example of a country that has implemented a Pro Natal Policy. Japan has a low birth rate and a low death rate, placing them in the fifth stage of the transition model. Japanese women have an average of 1.34 children, one of the lowest rates in the world and below the 2.8 needed to replenish the population. Japans population is ageing and there is a very high life expectancy. If the birth rate continues to stay low, the population could start to decline so the government have introduced pro natal laws in which parents can receive:
- 8 weeks paid leave from work
- Shorter working hours
- A maximum of 24 hours overtime a month
- Economic incentives: e.g the toy company Bandai is offering employees 1 million yen to have a third child and the same for each subsequent child
- Child allowances
- Larger families can get discounts from certain shops
- More time off to have a child
The policy hasn't been successful; birth rates only rose by 0.14% between 2005 and 2013.
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