But why not overpower the trend directly? That government just starts having children for itself, without getting families involved. Heavy consumption based tax that pays women (not families) a market based rate to give birth and raise children. It won't be a lot of money because opportunities will be taken by poorest, single women who will have 5-10 kids each, so perhaps the going rate will be below minimum wage. Continue payments through kids finishing high school, withdraw them if they start skipping school. This will give an army of workers and consumers to fulfil the role of a proverbial mudsill.