Part 4/13:
To understand the current predicament, it is essential to reflect on Italy's historical fertility trends. Only half a century ago, during the 1970s, the fertility rate was around 2.5 births per woman. However, historical statistics reveal that in the 1800s, rates were as high as five—largely due to high infant mortality rates, which resulted in larger families being the norm. With societal changes over the past century, the incentives for having multiple children have shifted dramatically.