[bigballsbjorn]

almost always the case especially in germany where you are already incentivised with super low income taxes, free kindergarten and a shit load of other payments from the goverment. its basically impossible to be poor enough not to afford children unless you are doing it intentionally.

[jespinel]

Super low income taxes?

The general income tax brackets break down in Germany is as follows:

- Up to €12,348: 0% (Tax-free allowance)

- €12,349 – €69,878: 14% to 42% (Progressive increase)

- €69,879 – €277,825: 42% (Proportional rate)

- Over €277,826: 45% (Reichensteuer or "rich tax")

Source: https://www.expatrio.com/about-germany/german-tax-system

IMO: that doesn't look "super low".

A better tax system is the one used by Estonia: a flat tax rate of 22%

Source: https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/estonia/individual/taxes-on-per...

[bigballsbjorn]

its low in practice for a family with a single earner is what i meant. ehegattenpsplitting. but yes by default its obviously very high but thats kind of the norm for western countries.

[bushwart]

I wasn't aware that Germany had super low income taxes. It is certainly possible to game the welfare system and many people do, but if you want a decent standard of living then you need to be employed.

[bigballsbjorn]

if you marry you basically half your income tax burden if your partner is not employed. there are also child support payments from the government of several hundred € per month that you get as well as free kindergarten, schooling and higher ed. if you are poor you get money from the state until you hit a minimum income threshhold which together with all the other payments is more than enough to have 2 children.