More money to boost child births? Ask babies, not politicians

Worrying trend: People walk as snow falls in Seoul. The country’s ruling party and opposition both announced campaign pledges aimed at boosting birth rates. — Bloomberg

THE phrase “it takes a village to raise a child” is generally recognised for emphasising the significant effort required to ensure a child’s upbringing in a safe environment, but the proverb holds particular relevance for South Korea as it grapples with a desperate battle to halt or, at the very least, slow the decline in birth rates.

In a race against time, the South Korean government and provincial administrations are rolling out a range of financial incentives and benefits to boost childbirth rates and address the pressing challenge of a deepening demographic crisis.