Surprise in Sardinia in the last places in Italy and Europe for birth rate : Cagliari, in fact, is the Italian city where the desire to have children is greatest.

This is what emerges from the research "Italians and the birth rate decline" by Changes Unipol , developed by Ipsos, aimed at analyzing the family situation, the reasons and consequences of the birth rate decline and the possible measures to support the birth rate.

According to the study, in the Sardinian capital almost half of the residents without children (47%, compared to 41% in Turin and 38% in Florence and Bari, which follow in the "ranking") declare that they want to have children in the next five years, despite a less than optimal personal economic situation (45%), a problem reported as the main cause of the birth rate decline together with the lack of policies to support families (34%) and the work situation (29%).

Only 26% of people from Cagliari declare that having children is not a life plan.

From the interviews, which involved a thousand people, it emerged that the ideal number of children for those who want to have and those who don't have any is 2 (57%), compared to 22% of those who would like an only child and 21% of who would like 3 or more children.

Furthermore, the report highlights, almost 7 out of 10 citizens believe that today's couples are less interested in having children than 30 years ago, even if a part of those interviewed (15%) disagree.

For the citizens of the Sardinian capital , the increase in the average age at which children are born arises above all from economic reasons (64%), among which the excessively high expenses that do not allow them to "start a family" stand out (43%), followed by work motivations (42%) and socio-cultural motivations (40%), in particular the increase in the average age at which people get married (18%).

The research also highlights the solutions for Cagliaritans to combat the birth rate decline, such as the universal allowance for each dependent child (57%) and the extension of parental leave (55%) , considered the most effective measures. And, again, the introduction of incentives for female work (54%) and the strengthening of family support policies for educational and school expenses (51%).

However, one citizen in two believes that current policies to support birth rates are insufficient. In line with the rest of Italy, even in Cagliari over half of the residents (62%) think that the current policies to support the birth rate are not adequate.

Finally, it is interesting to note how, according to the people of Cagliari, companies can play a role in encouraging birth rates on the island: 38% would appreciate financial aid from their employers to amortize the expenses due to the birth of a child, while 36 % would appreciate more work flexibility, such as full or partial remote working (20%) and flexibility in clock in/out hours (14%).

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