For three years, the desire of Hungarian couples to have children has been persistent, points out a recent analysis of the Maria Kopp Institute. The 1.49 fertility rate showing this has been stable since 2016, indicating that not only an incidental, non-recurring sudden increase occurred in 2016. The current fertility rate is one fifth higher than in 2010.
The city setting is stunning with a rich architectural and historical heritage: it offers an unmatched combination of culture, blooming gastronomy and the advantages of thermal waters and world heritage sights.
At the conference, Mikulas Dzurinda, President of the Wilfried Martens Center, drew attention to the negative impact of gender inequality on the economy and society. The keynote speaker, Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, stressed that the issue of work-life balance and equality between women and men will be decisive factors in the upcoming EP elections.
Mothers with small children agree with the family protection action plan at 98.6 percent, and 64 percent plan to join the program, according to the recent survey of the Maria Kopp Institute for Demography and Families (KINCS); conducted among mothers raising children younger than five. Most of them agreed with the measures on the development of crèches, the expansion of the CSOK system and the introduction of a childbirth loan for young married couples. The respondents would take advantage of one or two measures on average. 36.4% are planning to enrol into the CSOK system, 31% plan to use nursery care, and 28.1% wish to apply for the car purchase allowance. Half of the respondents plan to have another child within the next five years.
Balázs Molnár, Vice President of KINCS and Andrea Szarvas, Head of International Bureau held a discussion with Ales Kroupa, Deputy Director of the Czech Research Institute for Labour and Social Affairs and Vera Kucharova, family researcher. After the meeting, they have reviewed the possibilities of a Czech-Hungarian family cooperation with Miklós Boros, the Hungarian Ambassador to Prague.
Elżbieta Rafalska, the Polish Minister of Family Affairs, Labor and Social Policy held a consultation with the leaders of our Institute on family policies and future cooperation opportunities of our countries. At the meeting, the Ministry of Human Capacities was represented by Attila Beneda MD, Deputy State Secretary for Family Policy.
