Cash Incentives Counteract Depopulation

The mayor of a small German city is fighting depopulation by paying young women to move in.

1 minute read

September 21, 2007, 8:00 AM PDT

"For years, Germany has been fretting about an ongoing migration of youth from east to west. Young women, especially, have been turning their backs on the region in droves and politicians have proved powerless to stop them."

"Until now. The mayor of the eastern German town of Freital -- population just under 40,000 -- suddenly has 50 letters on his desk from women living in western Germany who would like to relocate to his town."

"His secret? Money. Earlier this year -- following a May study indicating that many more women were leaving the region than men -- Mayor Klaus Mättig said that one should offer women from Germany's west €2,000 ($2,791) if they were willing to sign a three-year lease on an apartment in Freital."

FULL STORY: German Mayor Shells Out to Attract Women

Thursday, September 20, 2007 in Der Spiegel

Social / Demographics Europe

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.