Experts named the main economic barriers to having children
Financial stability and housing affordability have become key factors in planning the birth of children in Russia. All the details are in the Izvestia article.
Economic factors of fertility
Ahmed Yusupov, an economist and partner at the Goldman and Po communications agency, notes that Russian families often postpone having children until they reach a certain threshold of financial confidence. The key components of this condition are a stable income, the availability of their own housing and savings in case of unforeseen expenses. At the same time, it is not the absolute amount of earnings that is crucial, but its predictability in the face of inflationary pressures.
Among the barriers are the high cost of education and rising real estate prices. With the arrival of a second child, the need to expand living space becomes a necessity, but high loan rates and the ratio of cost per meter to income in large cities make long-term planning difficult. Families also fear a temporary loss of income when a woman goes on maternity leave.
Effective support measures
To solve demographic problems, experts suggest using systematic methods instead of one-time payments. Maternity capital for improving housing conditions and preferential family mortgages remain the most sought-after instruments. Anastasia Gorelkina, Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC HC Siberian Business Union, member of the Board of Directors of JSC Azot, emphasizes that comprehensive programs that take into account regional specifics, income levels and the development of local infrastructure have the greatest effect.
An important area is the development of a network of nurseries and kindergartens, which allows parents to return to work faster. Yusupov draws attention to the importance of tax deductions, scaled by the number of children.
"Tax deductions scaled by the number of children, unlike one-time benefits, create a lasting economic incentive. A steady increase in the birth rate is possible only with the simultaneous reduction of three structural barriers — housing, career and infrastructure," said Ahmed Yusupov.
Psychological aspects of motherhood
Clinical psychologist, CBT therapist Anastasia Helemelya notes a qualitative shift in the perception of parenthood by younger generations. It has ceased to be perceived as an unconditional social duty, becoming a conscious personal project. Young people under the age of 35 tend to postpone the birth of a child until they achieve emotional and economic stability, focusing on quality child care.
Women's decisions are influenced by existential fears and parental family experiences. About 4% of women consciously choose to give up motherhood, which psychologists attribute to a realistic assessment of their resources and an unwillingness to repeat negative scenarios from childhood. The priority of self-realization often acts as a protective mechanism, since career growth coincides with the reproductive window.
"Modern culture dictates the image of an ideal mother. A woman chooses a career not instead of children, but temporarily refuses pregnancy and childbirth in order not to fail motherhood by her own strict standards," Anastasia Helemelya explained.
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