Cash Incentives Counteract Depopulation

"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."