EPSILON wrote:cyprusgeoff wrote:It seems as though we have to help out future pensioners as there won't be enough people contributing towards the pensions in the future.
Get shagging everyone, do your civil duty and help make loads of babies.
This is why
Birth rates rise, but not enough
By Patrick Dewhurst
GOVERNMENT plans to increase Cyprus’ birth rate are succeeding, according to yesterday’s Eurostat report on EU27 birth rates.
The increase in Cyprus’ birth rate is now the third highest in Europe rising from 10.9 per cent to 11.7 per cent last year, after Lithuania and Ireland.
Asked to comment on this, Dr Andreas Polynikis, Chief Medical Officer, said: “The rising birth rate could be because of money and increased benefits for larger families, but also the government is trying to pass on the message about the importance of having more children.”
The Eurostat report also announced that Cyprus’ Death rate is among the lowest in the EU, alongside Turkey and Ireland. Polyniki attributes this to improved living conditions, a good climate and an accessible health service.
He welcomed the news of the increased birth rate, adding: “’In 20 years, 18-20 per cent of the population will be over 65.”
It is estimated that five working citizens currently support one pensioner, but by 2050, only two will share the cost.
However, Paraskeras Samaras, President of the Cyprus association for large families (POP) was skeptical about the figures. “The published rate for 2009 is hypothetical. I expect that the number of births will be less than last year,” he said.
He added that many births are also to foreign migrants, who may leave the country after a few years.
Both specialists agreed that more must be done to prepare for the future. The health service has built more geriatric clinics, and increased investment in primary and secondary care for the elderly.
However, what Cyprus really needs is more children. The birth rate must increase further for there are enough people to fund pensions in the future, and for this to happen, much greater financial incentives for growing families are required, argues Paraskeras.
“The average Cypriot woman is having 1.5 children, but this must increase to more than two. Many families can not afford to have 3 children, and so we need more benefits for this. The government needs to have a demographic forum on this” he said.
According to a poll conducted in 2003 by POP, Cypriots listed the main reasons for a decrease in births as the expense of having children followed by an increasing number of working mothers, as well as the increasing rate of divorce.
POP has proposed that governments offer a subsidy of £4,000 for the birth of a third child, and £1,000 thereafter. This type of policy succeeded 1992 when the government increased benefits to young families. Conversely, the decline in birth rate in 2005 to 2007 coincided with a decrease in funding of 7.5 per cent.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009
Is it time for bed yet? nah, it's too bloody hot I've got a head ache
Just use the stowaways.Greece social security system is still alive just because of thousands of Albanians entered the system during the last 10 years./(before that Albanians were working without any security pmnts)
Actually i saw an interestic article for the same subject in economist latetly,saying almoast the same ass above.
As genious i am thinking and proposing.
Why many int companies moving their activities to China or elswhere and not in Greece or Cyprus?Simple: low wages.
Take a government land in Greece or Cyprus, apply a special law in this certain area allowing any already established (to not disturb present employement)company abroad to move its activities in this area allowing stowaways to work for these companies at half of official local salary but always paying for social security-no other taxes.Then i will keep some of the profit to be made by social security organizations myself...
It makes as much sense as your ...signature !
