Monday, March 31, 2025

Would you and your significant other get married if the government paid you $14,000? What if they paid the two of you to have children?

See Even a $14,000 Government Handout Can’t Get South Korea’s Singles to Marry: State-sponsored dating has become a phenomenon in a country with rock-bottom fertility rates; ‘I don’t want my parents to find out’ by Soobin Kim and Dasl Yoon of The WSJ. Excerpts:

"State-sponsored dating has become a phenomenon here."

"City governments launched matchmaking services and other incentives to boost the world’s lowest birthrate. The national government has expanded parental leave and increased cash payouts to newlyweds."

"Fewer than 5% of births come outside of wedlock."

"Saha-gu, a district in South Korea’s second largest city of Busan, offers singles who match at its events around $340 to spend on dates. Those who get married receive roughly $14,000 upfront and are feted with housing subsidies and more cash to cover pregnancy-related expenses and international travel. No participant has claimed the prize for marriage."

One company "pays its employees roughly $75,000 each time they have a baby."

A church "gives its members $1,380 for each childbirth."

"around 42 districts launched matchmaking events between 2022 and last August"

"Seoul tries to speed up the get-to-know-each-other phase by offering a bundle of tickets and restaurant vouchers to its matches."

Related posts:

A number of women who put off having babies after the 2007-09 recession are forgoing them altogether; more educated women and student debt also contribute to decline in birth rates (2018

Should the Government Pay People to Have Sex? (2007) 

Can you choose when to have your baby born if it brings you some money? (2024)

Worldwide Efforts to Reverse the Baby Shortage Are Falling Flat: Subsidized minivans, no income taxes: Countries have rolled out a range of benefits to encourage bigger families, with no luck (2024)

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