1.1 - Pro-natalist Policy Case Study: France (Paper 1)

Question 1

Intoduction: (3)

Answer 1

• France implemented a Pro-Natalist Policy (1) called the ‘Code de la Familie’ in 1939 (1). It promotes having more children due to the worries of workforce shortages or an ageing population. (1)

Question 2

Explain the methods of enforcement of the ‘Code de la Familie’ in France: (3)

Answer 2

• If you have 3 or more children, you will get a 30% discount on public transport in France. This is beneficial for both the government and the family because the family may not have to buy a car due to the convienence and cheapness of public transportation and the government also convinces couples to have 3 or more children which increases population growth rates.
• If mothers stay at home in order to have a third child, they will earn 1000 euros every month to take care of them and this influences the increase of population growth and with this, the elder population can be supported by the youth.
• If mothers have children, they will receive free childcare for their child from the age of 3, to school age which is around 10 years old. This will benefit the family because they do not need to pay for their childs education.

Question 3

Explain the impacts of the ‘Code de la familie’ in France: (3)

Answer 3

• It persuaded families to have 3 or more children so that they can enjoy benefits like reduction of public transport fares and subsidised holidays. As well as there are benefits for families, it also benefitted the government in managing to keep the population growth at a steady rate.
• Having more children provides a better and bigger workforce for the future when the working population now starts to age. Because families have had more children, there will be more people being able to support the elder population when they become older
• The fertility rate has now increased from around 1.2 in the 1930s to 1.84 in the present day. This is because the ‘Code de la familie’ helped to persuade families to give birth to more children which therefore had an impact on the fertility rate by making it increase