Part 5/13:
The shift to a more urbanized, industrial society has reduced the economic necessity for larger families. With the advent of a comprehensive welfare state, supported by social security and pension systems, the rationale for producing more children has diminished significantly. Today, the financial burden of raising children—about €175,000 from birth to the age of 18—presents a formidable challenge for many families, deterring couples from having more than one child.