Family Formation and the Future – A Conference on the Geopolitical, Cultural, and Legal Dimensions of Demographic Change – Day 1

The Danube Institute Presents

Family Formation and the Future

The Geopolitical, Cultural, and Legal Dimensions of Demographic Change

Overview

The topic of family and fertility is more vital than ever. As demographic shifts reshape our civilization, public intellectuals, and policymakers are urgently seeking solutions to ensure that family life remains sustainable and free from economic constraints. This is particularly significant in Hungary, where the conservative government’s message is clear: childbearing should not be an economic burden.

Conference Objectives

The goal of the Danube Institute Family Formation conference is to provide a unique international platform for discussing the geopolitical, cultural, and legal dimensions of demographic change. Hungary is pursuing an unparalleled approach worldwide by supporting family formation with innovative economic measures and tax incentives, and it is ready to set an example for the international community in family policy as a pioneer in policy-making.

Key Questions to Explore

• What are the social, cultural, and economic forces driving the decline in fertility rates in developed nations?
• What role should public policy play in strengthening marriage and family formation?
• How can we integrate truth, beauty, and goodness into public life to secure our future?
• How do patterns of migration, urban crime, and legal enforcement affect families and communities?

Additionally, the conference will address the economic challenges hindering family growth—from rising housing and healthcare costs to the burdens on education and childcare—and explore innovative solutions, including tax incentives and labor market reforms, to make family life more accessible and sustainable.

Confirmed Speakers and detailed program

April 1 – Day 1 

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration and Coffee (Gallery, Level 0)

9:00 AM

DANUBE LEADERSHIP WELCOME

• István Kiss, Executive Director, Danube Institute

9:02 AM - 9:10 AM

OPENING REMARKS

• Helen Roy, Author, Fairer Disputations, Budapest Fellow

9:10 - 9:30 AM

KEYNOTE ADDRESS  

• H. E. Ambassador Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, Ambassador of Hungary to the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

09:30 - 09:45 AM

HUNGARY’S FAMILY FORMATION POLICIES: A SNAPSHOT

• Balázs Hankó, Hungarian Minister for Culture and Innovation

9:45 PM - 11:00 PM

THE DEMOGRAPHIC PICTURE IN HUNGARY AND THE U.S.

• Lecture by Georgina Kiss-Kozma, Head of Research, Youth Research Institute

Followed by a roundtable discussion:

• Emma Waters, Researcher, The Heritage Foundation
• Juan Ángel Soto Gómez, Professor, Universidad de Navarra
• Gergely Réti, Collegium Commissioner, MCC
• Johanna Frohlich, Researcher, Ludovika University

Moderator:

• Levente Székely, Head of the Center for Sociology and of the Youth Research Institute, MCC

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

COFFEE BREAK

11:15 - 11:30 AM

U. S. POLICY ON MARRIAGE & THE FAMILY

• Robert Palladino, Chargé ďAffaires, a.i., U. S. Embassy, Hungary 

11:30 AM - 12:45 PM

MARRIAGE, FAMILY, AND PUBLIC POLICY
Marriage and family are not just personal choices—they are the foundation of a stable society. But what role can or should public policy play in strengthening family formation? This panel will assess current policies that impact marriage, child-rearing, and work-life balance, debating which interventions are effective and which may be counterproductive. How can governments craft policies that encourage strong families while respecting personal freedom?

• Brad Littlejohn, Director of Programs and Education, American Compass
• Tim Carney, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
• Patrick Brown, Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center
• Fiona Bruce, Conservative Member of Parliament for Congleton from 2010 to 2024

Moderator:

• Zsófia Rácz, Editor-in-Chief, Hungarian Conservative; former Deputy State Secretary of Youth Affairs of Hungary

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM

LUNCH BREAK

1:45 PM - 3:30 PM 

MEN, WOMEN, AND THE BIRTH DEARTH
Fertility rates are declining across the developed world. What are the social, cultural, and economic forces driving this trend? What are the potential outcomes? This panel will examine the changing roles of men and women, the shifting incentives around marriage and childbearing, and the broader implications of a shrinking population. Are current policies making family life more difficult than it should be? What, if anything, can be done to turn the tide?

• Brad Wilcox, Professor of Sociology, University of Virginia (virtual)
• Erika Bachiochi, Professor, Harvard University; Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center
• Louise Perry, Author, The Case Against the Sexual Revolution
• Catherine Pakaluk, Professor, Catholic University of America
• Imre Bedő, Founder, Men For All Organization

Moderator:

• Helen Roy, Author, Fairer Disputations, Budapest Fellow

 3:30 PM - 3:45 PM

COFFEE BREAK

3:45 PM - 4:05 PM 

REPORT FROM POLAND: THE YOUTH’S LIFE & FAMILY ASPIRATIONS

• Barbara Socha, President of Generations Institute Foundation, Poland; former Polish deputy Minister of Family & Social Policy

4:05 PM - 4:20 PM

REPORT ON HUNGARY

• Katalin Gyurkó, Ministerial Commissioner for Intergenerational Cooperation

4:20 PM - 4:45 PM

WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

• Miriam Cates, GB News Presenter, Conservative Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge from 2019 to 2024

4:45 PM - 5:30 PM

THE FUTURE
Roundtable Discussion on points raised during the day

• Erik Almqvist, former Swedish MP
• Miriam Cates, GB News Presenter, Conservative Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge from 2019 to 2024
• Anna Nagy, Founder, Chair of the Board, Single Parents' Center
• András Pári, Scientific Vice President, Mária Kopp Institute for Demography and Families

Moderator:

• Philip Pilkington, Visiting Fellow, Danube Institute

FULL HOUSE

Details

Date: April 1–2, 2025
Venue: Lónyay-Hatvany Villa, 1 Csónak Street, 1015 Budapest
(Entrance: Aranybástya Restaurant)
Registration: from 8.30 am
Language: English

Participation is free; however, due to limited seating, pre-registration is required.

We reserve the right to modify the program.

Join us, and be part of shaping a future where families thrive and the foundation of our civilization is rebuilt on the values of truth, hope, and creative resilience!