In the period 2016-2018, the Institute for Population and Human Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences was the lead executor of a large-scale national project "Measures to Overcome the Demographic Crisis", assigned to the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences by the Council of Ministers No. 347 of 8.12.2016. This collection unites the efforts of a team of specialists from the "Fertility and Family Policy" working group, who, in cooperation with experts from the non-governmental sector, aimed to prepare detailed analyses of trends in fertility and the state of family policy in the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as to propose a package of measures to improve policies in support of families and children. The "Fertility and Family Policies" working group shares the vision that family policy in the country should be aimed at improving the quality of life and access to basic services for families with children, such as healthcare, education, the social sphere and support services in case of conflicts and difficulties in the family. Emphasis only on pronatalist policies is not the most effective way to find resources to increase the birth rate.
The collection presents the authors' analyses of birth rate trends in the period after 1990, analyses of the regulatory framework related to families and children in the Republic of Bulgaria, analysis of family policy, as well as national strategies in various areas that affect the family and children - demography, employment, healthcare, etc.
Good practices in selected European countries are presented in terms of social protection and support systems for families with children. The collection also includes the results of two national representative surveys that reflect the attitudes and opinions of the generations of reproductive age in the country in terms of measures aimed at supporting families and children. Proposals have been prepared for measures that aim to support individuals/couples in their reproductive decisions. Detailed opinions and financial estimates have been developed for some of these measures. The package of measures was discussed at Expert Councils, as well as presented at a workshop at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
Improving the well-being and quality of life of families in Bulgaria is a fundamental prerequisite for optimizing demographic reproduction. In addition to the quantitative dimensions of reproduction, it is also important to invest in the quality of human capital. Investments in healthcare, education, social services for families and children have long-term returns and are key to the human capital that the country will have in the future.