The Heritage Foundation released a report urging the US to prioritize marriage and family, proposing initiatives like marriage preparation programs, a universal day of rest, and discouraging online dating, while advocating for policies that support traditional family structures and discourage single parenthood, reflecting its shift towards populist conservative ideals.
Some conservatives are urging President Trump to prioritize family policies to address the declining U.S. birth rate, advocating for measures like expanding child tax credits, reducing childcare costs, and supporting reproductive health initiatives, amid concerns that the issue is not being sufficiently addressed by the administration.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is looking to Hungary as a "perfect example" of how to address Italy's low birth rate crisis through investment. At the Budapest Democratic Summit, Meloni met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who praised Italy's pro-family government. Hungary's demographic policy model, which includes financial incentives for families and support for early childhood education, has been credited with reversing the country's declining birth rate. However, critics argue that the model discriminates against single parents and same-sex couples. Italy's low birth rate is seen as an urgent problem by 74% of Italians, with respondents citing low wages, job instability, and lack of public support for child-rearing costs as main causes.