This is Planet Money from NPR.
I have to start this episode off with some personal news.
I am pregnant.
Thank you.
I also have a toddler, so I have already been through the having a kid rigmarole here in the US, which is how I know it is not a good deal.
Having a kid in the US is extremely expensive.
Our government is one of just like a handful of countries worldwide that does not offer any form of paid parental leave.
We have functionally no public daycare.
So knowing what I know, it would be irrational of me to have more kids here if I can avoid it.
Especially when it is my understanding that other countries are offering way better deals, tons of benefits and straight up cash for having babies.
And one of the reasons why there are such good deals out there is because governments around the world are struggling with labor force participation, having enough workers and getting the most possible out of them, and maybe the biggest driver.
A lot of countries are facing a problem in their population demographics.
They have a ton of aging workers and not enough new babies being born to become future workers and taxpayers.
So I have something they need babies.
They have something I money, social services and functioning public infrastructure.
Lets make a deal.
Hello and welcome to Planet Money.
Im Mary Childs and today on the show we are going to go around the world shopping for the very best deal.
So you dont have to.
And along the way we will find out why those deals exist in the first place.