In the second half of the Reuters article, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is doubling a monthly entitlement in order to boost that country’s birth rate.

Describing the issue as contemporary Russia’s most acute problem, he told Russian couples he would more than double to 1,500 roubles ($55.39) monthly payouts to families for the first baby and then double that to 3,000 roubles for a second child.

Average wages are below $100 a week.

We give money to poor families when they can’t support the kids they have. They give money to families in order to have more kids. :)

The trend is driven by low life expectancy, particularly among men, due to poor diet, heavy drinking and smoking.

Sounds like they need a good old-fashioned temperance movement. :) Seriously though, wouldn’t it be cheaper for the state to improve current conditions so that the existing populace doesn’t eat, drink, and smoke themselves into oblivion, rather than to bribe parents for years into raising up a new generation who do the same?

This may be a boon to parents, but if there’s any sort of market over there, it won’t last long. If new parents have their wages increased by 50%, they will have purchasing power to spend more. With this increased demand, prices will go up so that suppliers can make more stuff, or if the government holds prices down, there will be shortages.