Bank of Italy in its latest Annual report * notes how in recent years it took about 640 € per month, about a quarter of the average household income.
In the period 2017-2020, households made up of two adults and one or more minor children spent on average just over 640 euros per month to support each child.
In detail they are included:
- Purchases of goods and services intended exclusively for children (eg. food for babies and school fees)
- Share of consumption recorded at household level (such as housing and transport costs);
- Almost the 60 percent of the expenditure was earmarked for basic needs (food, clothing and household expenses, education and health).
In the South, expenditure per child was lower than in the Center and North. About a fifth of the gap concerned household expenses, which reflect the higher cost of real estate in the central and northern regions, and for about two thirds less essential consumption (free time, transport and more).
This is perhaps the reason why few children are born in Italy?
According to Istat, lthe level of fertility of the Italians has now plummeted to 1,2 children on average per woman. While it would take approx 2,1 children on average per woman to ensure generational change in the BelPaese.
Alex Gaetani