Population Case Study: France Pro-Natalist

1920 and 1923 - abortion and contraception banned

1939 – Code de la Famille introduced

1940 – death penalty for back street abortions

Between 1943 & 1965 – experienced a desired baby boom                                                                       

                                         - births (14 mil.) > Deaths (9 mil.)

1967 – Contraception legalised

1975 – Abortion legalised

•Why was it needed?

- Low fertility rate because; people were more educated, women in careers, later marriages

- The government was worried the pop. wasn’t going to replace itself over time

•Policies were put in place to encourage 3 children families:

- Monthly cash incentive of £675 for a mother to stay off work for 1 year after the birth of her 3^rd child

- Carte Famille Nombreuse – large reductions on things like train fares & cinema tickets

- Tax based on the more children the less to pay

- 3 years paid parental leave for mother or father

- Housewife of the Year award

•Effects:

- France has one of Europe’s highest fertility rates             –IMR fell

- Didn’t really work till mid 1940’s           - more young couples had larger families

- TFR is now 2 which is near the replacement level