Would you make money giving birth?: Tax allowances and economic assistance as measures of population policy in Serbia

Abstract

This article addresses the issue of childbirth postponement in Serbia. The paper examines the interaction of demographic and socioeconomic factors as relevant indicators of demographic development. In the case of seven municipalities in the Srem region, the authors sought to determine the causes of putting off childbirth and examine the attitudes of the female population, considering their decision not to give birth. The paper pursues to provide answers to the problems of the postponement of childbirth phenomenon, the economic resources needed for birth, the importance of the institutional framework and the changing role of women in society, which directly affect women's reproductive behavior. Research findings can be integrated into development strategies, which include both population policy and family planning measures, from the level of an individual to the extent of the community.