General context and the problem addressed
Romania and Moldova share some similarities in their population dynamics determined by their historical, geographical, and cultural connections. Both Romania and Moldova have experienced population decline in recent decades due to high levels of emigration and fertility fall. Both countries have implemented various policies to address population decline which often include incentives for larger families, support for childcare, and measures to encourage emigrants to return, but as statistical data on population dynamics and demographic forecasts show, these measures do not give the expected result and the problem of determining the most effective policy measures for fertility recovery is still relevant.

According to the Eurostat demographic projection, in the decades to come (up to 2050), Romania will be the EU country most affected by depopulation, with a population decrease of at least 20% (Eurostat, 2021). The population of Moldova may shrink by a third (Gagauz, 2021). In recent years, the fertility level in Romania and Moldova has been similar, averaging between 1.7 and 1.8 children per woman. While this level is not the lowest among European countries, both nations exhibit lower birth rates, particularly among women with higher education, as well as significant disparities between urban and rural areas and among ethnic groups. These factors underscore the necessity of developing policy measures tailored to the unique characteristics of these countries, informed by an in-depth study of fertility dynamics and its determinants.

While Romania and Moldova share these common demographic challenges, their distinct historical, political, and economic contexts have led to differences in the scale and nature of these challenges. Romania is a member of the European Union, and this fact influences its governance structures, policies, and economic development. Moldova is an EU candidate country and former part of the Soviet Union, which leaves an imprint on the political, social, and cultural context.
Our research project tries to tackle this two-faced relationship between fertility and support policies, addressing the following problems:

1) There is no comprehensive comparative analysis of fertility in Romania and Moldova. Both countries have not been included in most comparative analyses related to Eastern Europe, usually due to data quality

2) There is no comprehensive comparative analysis of the fertility policy measures and their socio- economic background in the two countries

3) In both countries the existing policy measures did not give the expected result and the problem of determining the most effective policy measures for fertility recovery is still relevant.