Elterngeld in European countries
Elterngeld or Parents’ money is the amount that a couple can get for rearing a child. European government transfers certain amount of money that should be used for bringing up the child. It can be the amount for his school fee or medical expenses. It is not a maternity benefit but a benefit to the child for his up bringing. Although the amount does not include total support but it involves benefits like sponsoring education, healthy living conditions etc. This is a measure taken by many European countries as a part of a measure for the declining birth rate in these countries. Many women do not prefer to give birth to a child because of the high cost of living in today’s world, economic instability and inability of the mother to bear the expenses of the child all by herself.
The government has started Elterngeld so that the mother can provide her child with sound education or good living condition. Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark are some of the countries that have adopted this measure. The average birth rate of many Western European countries is around 2.1 per woman where is the current rate is 1.3. This means that the country has less birth rate. Elterngeld is a measure that encourages many women to take up the responsibility to rear a child. Go online and find out the parents’ money that is allowed in your country.