How Much Would It Take to Make You Delay Having Children?

Filed in archive Kids on August 7, 2007

Came across this story today that says in the Satara district in the state of Maharashtra in India, newlyweds can get up to 7,500 rupees (about $185 U.S. dollars) if they're willing to hold off on having their first baby for two years.

You might not think that's a great incentive, but your rupees go further in India-according to the article this is enough for a nice weekend getaway, a "second honeymoon." Of course marketing it as a second honeymoon does not seem to be the way to discourage baby-making.

So, let's put it in a perspective Americans can understand. This is best answered if you're a newlywed. If your friendly local government offered you $750 to delay your first child, would you do it? How about $2000? How about $6000?

Where's the point where you would do it? More interesting, where's the point where you actually start to seriously consider it? Sure, you start out saying, "No way," but eventually the numbers would get intriguing. And it would of course depend on how much money you had to begin with. Woody Harrelson & demi moore wouldn't have considered Robert Redford's "Indecent Proposal" if they'd been rich.

So, what would it take?