The small village of Albinen, is a quiet, peaceful town with spectacular alpine views, but according to municipality president Beat Jost, families and young people are leaving in droves. The population has dwindled to a measly 240, and the village school has even closed, forcing the community's 7 remaining children to commute to another nearby town. So, what's a small village in a rich country to do in times like these? Pay off prospective new residents, of course!
The initiative is meant to attract families and people under age 45 who are seeking to buy or build a new home. Each adult will be offered a little over $25 thousand for their time, with each child being worth about $10 thousand. This means that a family of four could rake in more than $70 grand, provided their investment in a home totals at least $200k. If you're like Feodor Vassilyev, the Russian peasant who sired 69 children with his first wife, you'd be in for over $700k. All those mangy kids of yours might finally prove to be a return on investment!
