Deep-rooted social changes dating back to the post-war era, rather than just recent economic crises, are the primary cause of the severe demographic decline in Greece and across much of Europe, a new comprehensive study has found.
The research argues that while the desire for children has remained stable—with most women wanting around two—structural barriers have made it harder to achieve.
These include women's fuller participation in the workforce without corresponding support, the rising costs of child-rearing, and delayed family formation.
The study, from the Institute of Demographic Research and Studies, highlights a continental divide. Countries like France, which implemented strong family support policies decades ago, have maintained relatively higher birth rates.
In contrast, countries like Greece, Spain, Italy, and Germany have suffered from more than 35 years of critically low fertility (at or below 1.5 children per woman), reflecting a lack of early policy adaptation.
The study concludes that without comprehensive, family-oriented social policies that help balance work and family life, Greece and other southern European nations will continue to face a worsening demographic crisis.
By Yiorgos Pappous