In Budapest eight months ago, I heard many hopeful Hungarian conservatives point out that Hungary had risen from the bottom of European birth rates to almost the top.

They credited the administration of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had implemented all sorts of pro-family policies, including lots of cash, accommodations, and tax breaks for parents.

TIMOTHY P. CARNEY: HUNGARY’S GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO MAKE MORE BABIES — IT’S NOT GOING SO GREAT

But already back then, there were reasons to worry whether Hungary really was resisting the global collapse in birth rates. In 2024, its birth rate had fallen and was

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