Fringe benefits.. or taxable?

A municipality in Sweden is working hard to increase its population - now, all publicly employed will receive aid to adopt or, well increase fertility. 

  • Here they are, the 5,594 inhabitants of Ragunda, who now may become many more, if the plan to increase nativity pans out.

  • IVF as enticement
    Ragunda Municipality in Jämtland in northern Sweden is planning on using IVF (in vitro fertilization) and adoption to better its population numbers. Everyone employed by the municipality will be offered financial help with trying to conceive or adopt.

  • Ragunda municipality in Jämtland will offer their employees financial help in trying to have families. Above, Ragunda Old Church.

  • “It is important that we try all possibilities in increasing our population,” says government commissioner Terese Bengard (Social Democratic Party). The goal for the municipality is to increase the population by 100 people in 2015. In June 2010, the population in Ragunda was 5,594.

  • The Thai pavilion in Ragunda. While much of the incredible building was constructed by companies of the Jämtland region, all of the decorations have been made by the present Thai king's own craftsmen.

  • We have earlier reported of the increasing Swedish population - it is clear that the population increase is not for every Swedish municipality.
    Although 280 miles north of Stockholm Ragunda is almost exactly in the middle of Sweden.

  • With a population density of 5.9 per sq mile the move should turn out great if you're looking for less crowded. The poulation density in New York? - Just under 27,000 per sq mile in the City itself while for the State of New York it's around 410.
    For more info, see www.ragunda.se

  • If you arrive on July 19 on your first visit to Ragunda you'll be participating in a quite unique celebration: King Chulalongkorn Day. Ragunda is home to a Thai pavilion dedicated to King Chulalongkorn, the only pavilion of its kind outside Thailand.
    In 1897, King Chulalongkorn of Siam (present-day Thailand) visited Sweden and Ragunda municipality. 100 years later construction began on a project that was financed through fund-raising and sponsorships in both Thailand and Sweden.
    The Thai King's visit was in conjunction with Swedish/Norwegian King Oscar II's invitation to visit the International Art and Industry Fair in Stockholm. The invitation was accepted and since the Swedish sawmill industry was also of interest to King Chulalongkorn, he chose to also visit the middle parts of northern Sweden.
    www.thaipaviljongen.se