[billorites]

There’s an ignorance of the basic laws of economics here.

[swain_forkbeard]

“There’s an ignorance of the basic laws of economics here.”

If the intent is to increase the birthrate, I think it might work.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Maybe not, if what they want is to boost the rate of pregnancy and childbirth. And effective for Muslim immigrants as well as Italians. Probably MORE effective for them.

If one wants to boost the rate of "in-wedlock, Italian" childbirth, the problem there isn't that people lack money, but that they lack meaning. I suspect the only way to supply what's lacking in the "meaning" department --- addressing the faith, hope, and love gap --- is a revitalization of Catholicism, something the state can't do because it's a spiritual --- not a political -- thing: not the state's job.