You hear that living with children is so inconvenient that only idiots have them. There are so many of these idiots that only in 2100 the number of people in the world will begin to fall. If this propaganda is well distributed and effective, that number will fall quickly.
How will the last person in the world die? With rotten, untreated teeth, with other health problems that are now treatable, surrounded by wild dogs that will gnaw at his bones. This thought experiment shows what the society we create gives us by having children. Those who do not have children are parasites at the expense of this society and our children. Those who do not have children must be heavily taxed, with these funds allocated to help parents.
This idea touches on one of the most relevant social and demographic discussions of our time - the relationship between personal choice and collective responsibility for the future of society.
Here are some key points related to the thought experiment and proposed solutions mentioned here:
Demographic reality: Although it is predicted that the world population may start to decline around 2100 (according to some studies, for example, data published in The Lancet, even earlier), in developed countries, including Lithuania, the birth rate is already below the level of generational replacement. This poses direct challenges to pension, health care and social welfare systems.
The idea of a “child tax”: The proposal to impose an additional tax on those who do not have children (the so-called “childlessness tax”) is not new. Historically, it was applied in some countries (e.g., the USSR) in order to encourage birth rates. However, modern economies more often prefer an incentive model – not a tax penalty, but benefits for parents:
Child money.
Tax benefits (e.g., an additional tax-free income).
Housing subsidies for young families.
Social solidarity: The “parasitism” aspect emphasized here is based on the assumption that children are future taxpayers who will support the current childless in old age. Economists call this an intergenerational solidarity contract. The argument is that by raising children, individuals invest enormous amounts of money and time in the future “labor force,” the fruits of which will be enjoyed by everyone, and therefore the state must compensate for these costs.
The value of the thought experiment: The dystopian scenario described here is reminiscent of P. D. James’s book or film “Children of Men.” It perfectly illustrates that without new generations, not only production stops, but also the progress of civilization, science, and services that we take for granted (such as medicine).
Currently, family policy in Lithuania is focused on family support and financial incentives, but discussions about how to fairly distribute the burden between those raising children and those without them remain one of the most sensitive political topics.
It is time to end the discussions. In the age of artificial intelligence, it is very easy to calculate and use the funds of the childless, expanding benefits for parents so that raising children becomes a bearable burden again. Reducing loneliness, the related improvement in mental health, the flourishing of our language and culture, the true security of our nation depend on this.
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