Analytics, Demography, Latvia, Legislation, Society

Plavins says that "there currently are a lot of those who are in their reproductive years, yet their numbers will decline in ten years."

He indicates that in order to achieve positive population growth, couples need to have three children, whereas in ten years it will be six children – which is impossible.

If birth rates do not increase in the coming ten years, Latvians will become a minority in Latvia, Plavins is certain.

He mentions several solutions on how to improve demographics in the country – keeping the microenterprise tax rate at 9%, accessible funding for microenterprises, tax holidays for newly-established companies in their first year of operation, benefits for parents (additional holidays, reduced working hours, etc.), as well as a legal framework on abortions similar to that in Germany, including a possible "child-free" tax.