Low birth rate in Greece becomes an expensive problem
Every family acquiring a third child after 1 January 2006 will receive a €2,000 subsidy. This was one of the government’s election promises, now being implemented. The special classification tax on new cars will also be gradually reduced for these families by 35% in 2006 and 70% in 2007, with total exemption in 2008. Every three-child family will also enjoy the same benefits as many-child families, i.e. those with four or more children.
Greece, along with all developed nations, has had a low birth rate over the past few decades and the state is trying to support parents with many children. The cost of these measures is estimated at 1 billion euros per year, but people do not believe they are helping to solve the problem effectively.