The Trump administration is brainstorming ways to boost the U.S. birth rate, which has been dropping faster than your phone battery on TikTok. One idea? Handing out cash to parents for each new baby. That's right—have a baby, get a bonus! It's like a game show, but with diapers and midnight feedings.
Here are Five Fast Facts on bucks for babies:
- 👶 Birth Rate Blues - The US birth rate hit an all-time low in 2023, with about 3.6 million births—a decrease of over 76k from the previous year. This continues a decline of around 2% per year over the last decade.
- 💵 Cash For Cradles - One proposal is to give a $5,000 baby bonus for new parents. That's a lot of onesies!
- 🧑🏫 Lean Into Education - Another consideration is reserving 30% of Fulbright scholarships for those who are married or have children for future education needs. Or, programs to educate women about their cycles to better understand the ideal time to conceive. Yes, this is apparently an actual thing that can be done.
- 🤔 Reviving The American Dream - The Trump administration aims to make it easier for Americans to start families, including efforts to reduce housing costs and create other incentives for having kids. They have yet to release formal plans, so it’s all speculation right now. Stay tuned!
- 😣 What’s The Big Deal? - Why does this matter? A shrinking population means fewer younger workers to drive the economy, and too many older folks no longer producing. This leads to shortages of products and services, higher costs, and general economic decline. Japan is experiencing this right now, so let’s not commit harakiri alongside them!
🔥Bottom line: While the idea of a $5,000 baby bonus sounds appealing, it's clear that raising a child involves more than just a one-time check. It’ll be interesting to see what they end up doing about this long term issue. But hey, if you are planning to expand your family, you might be able to cash in on those cuddles and get some benefits along the way!
What do you think would increase the birth rate?
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