Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Should the Government Pay People to Have Sex?

Sounds crazy, but a Russian Governor thinks that it is a good idea. To fight a dwindling population married couples are given time off from work to have sex. On the officially named "Day of Conception" in Ulyanovsk, people are allowed to stay home. Any couples that have a baby nine months later will be rewarded with gifts ranging from money, to refrigerators and cars. They have done this for three years and it has increased the birth rate. As we say in economics, incentives matter. You can read all about it at Residents Of Ulyanovsk Russia Get Day Off Work To Have Sex.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I personally don't think this is a good idea at this time for the U.S. I think that at the moment we need to concentrate on taking care of the children that are already born. Things like health, education, and good job skills should be rewarded. I'll take a new car for completing school, I'd like my student loans paid off once I become a doctor. Although it is a good concept and it may work in Russia, I think I'd like the Us government to stay out of my sex life for the time being.

Cyril Morong said...

Elicia

Thanks for dropping by. The US so far does not have the problem of dwindling population. But you can get a tax deduction for kids, so you do get some small benefit from the government. It might depend on your tax bracket. But it probably amounts to less than what these people in this one Russian provice are getting.