scholarly journals Conclusion: The Next Decade of Family Policy Research

2020 ◽  
pp. 683-706
Author(s):  
Wim Van Lancker ◽  
Rense Nieuwenhuis
Keyword(s):  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Family Relations ◽  
Economic Inequality ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Future Outlook ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Multilevel Perspective

AbstractBased on the multilevel perspective on family policy research brought together in this handbook, this chapter highlights five major societal challenges for the future outlook and outcomes of family policies, and reflects on what the handbook teaches us about how to effectively address these challenges, as well as what there is yet to learn. The challenges pertain to the (1) levels of policy implementation, and in particular globalization and decentralization, (2) austerity and marketization, (3) economic inequality, (4) changing family relations, and (5) welfare states adapting to women’s empowered roles. The chapter concludes by examining what lessons were learned, and are yet to learn, regarding the capacity of family policies to cope with shocks of various kinds and to support families during extraordinary times.

scholarly journals Conceptualizing National Family Policies: A Capabilities Approach

2020 ◽  
pp. 141-167
Author(s):  
Jana Javornik ◽  
Mara A. Yerkes
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Capabilities Approach ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Policy Area ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
National Family ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Work Family

AbstractComparative family policy research has advanced significantly in recent years. The growing availability of more and better data have improved our understanding of cross-national similarities and differences in family policies, as well as how they shape the lives of different families. Despite these advancements, comparative family policy research continues to face difficulties. The multifaceted nature of family policies makes cross-country comparisons complex. Conceptualizing our theoretical understanding of which policy aspects matter and why as well as operationalizing them into measurable indicators, often remains problematic for comparative analyses. Using examples of British and Swedish policies on childcare, a policy area particularly prone to conceptual challenges, we discuss the difficulties involved in conceptualizing family policies in comparative research. We argue that taking a capabilities approach provides a useful way forward in the field and show how such a conceptual framework allows us to more meaningfully analyze both work-family policies and their outcomes.

scholarly journals Changes in European Welfare State Regimes as a Response to Fertility Trends: Family Policy Perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Suzana Bornarova ◽  
Natasha Bogoevska ◽  
Svetlana Trbojevik
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Fertility Rates ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Demographic Trends ◽  
Demographic Indicators ◽  
The Family ◽  
Employment Of Women

Following 1945, that is the Second World War, Europe faced a huge demographic increase in the number of births, known as baby-boom. Encouraged by the improvement of the living conditions after the devastating war, the return of the optimism, opening of the employment opportunities and the renewal of the idea about the family, this demographic trend entailed the so-called familism tide. In the mid 1960-ies however, demographic indicators in almost all European countries began to change suddenly. Massive development of contraception, increased birth control and family planning, as well as higher employment of women and their integration in the labour market, took place. As a result of these trends, in the 1970-ties European countries faced a considerable drop in fertility rates. This trend reached its peak during 1970-1980-ties when a dramatic drop in fertility rates took place, known as baby-bust. As a consequence, almost everywhere in Europe, the fertility rate dropped below the level needed for simple population reproduction or below 2.1 children per woman. Several related trends also contributed to the change in the demographic picture of Europe, such as: dropping birthrates, shrinking of the population, delay in births (increase in the age of birth of the first child), increase in the number of one-child families, as well as growth in the number of couples without children (universality of births is no longer present – at least 1 child per family). Similar trends are evidenced in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CIE), with one considerable difference – they took place around a decade later compared to the developed European countries. One common characteristic which shaped the demographic changes in CIE countries was the fact that they occurred simultaneously with the radical changes of the societal system from socialism towards democracy in the 1990-ties. Due to this, demographic changes in CIE countries gain in weight, are furthermore under the influence of the transitional processes and thus differ considerably compared to those in the developed countries. The differences are heavily attributable to two sets of factors: a) different institutional settings, especially in the family policies related to employment of women and child raising; and b) different effects of these family policies upon fertility rates and participation of women in the labour market. Given the above demographic trends, welfare states in Europe, adjust accordingly, predominantly through the policies and measures of family policy as one of the social policy domains. Following a detailed statistical analysis of demographic indicators in Europe, this paper will produce an analysis of the family policy responses to demographic trends based on the Esping-Andersens’ classification of welfare states: universal welfare states (Nordic countries); conservative welfare states (Continental European countries); liberal social states (Anglo-Saxon countries) and South-European social states (Mediterranean countries). A specific focus in the paper will be also given to the demographic trends and corresponding family policy developments in the Republic of Macedonia, as a country of South Europe. Cross-cutting issues in the analysis of the family policy models will be: the extent to which family policies are gender-neutral or gender-specific (are they women-friendly and do they promote active fatherhood?), measures for harmonization of work and family life (are women appropriately supported in performing their roles of mothers and active participants in the labour market at the same time) and the scope in which family policy is being designed to serve the purposes of population policy (how the concern and the interest of the state to increase fertility rates shapes family policy?).

From Family to Reconciliation Policy: How the Grand Coalition Reforms the German Welfare State

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelika von Wahl
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Policy Change ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Grand Coalition ◽  
Common Denominator ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Traditional Family ◽  
Reconciliation Policies

For decades conservative welfare states have reformed reluctantly. To understand recent family policy reforms in Germany we must add institutions and economics to any account of politics. This article focuses on the grand coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD formed after the 2005 Bundestag election. Two opposed assumptions pertain to grand coalitions: one holds that a coalition of parties with different ideologies will act according to the lowest common denominator resulting in policy inertia. The opposite holds that grand coalitions enable policy change because constraints are removed by the supermajority. This article develops five conditions for successful reform, arguing that traditional family policies directed at the protection of motherhood are shifting towards reconciliation policies that emphasize labor market activation and increased birth rates. The shift indicates 1) that even conservative states have the potential for bounded reform; and, 2) that agency—particularly partisan and coalitional interests—needs to be considered more seriously.

scholarly journals Introduction: A Multilevel Perspective on Family Policy

2020 ◽  
pp. 3-24
Author(s):  
Rense Nieuwenhuis ◽  
Wim Van Lancker
Keyword(s):  
Family Policy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Federal Policies ◽  
Academic Communities ◽  
National Organizations ◽  
Multilevel Perspective ◽  
Policy Impacts ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Four Levels

AbstractThis chapter introduces a multilevel perspective on family policy, ranging from family policies at the levels of supra-national (and inter-national) organizations such as the United Nations, OECD, and the European Union; national or federal policies and legislation; the subnational municipalities, states, or regions in which people live; and finally the organizations or in which people work. At each of these levels of governance, family policies are formulated, voted for, implemented, and carried out—or not. And it is this whole set of multi-level policies that ultimately affect families’ and individuals’ choices, opportunities, constraints, and capability in terms of work, care, and wellbeing. This handbook brings together research on each of these four levels, is sensitive to heterogeneous policy impacts, and brings together scholars from different academic communities.

scholarly journals Family Policy: Neglected Determinant of Vertical Income Inequality

2020 ◽  
pp. 657-681
Author(s):  
Rense Nieuwenhuis
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Economic Inequality ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Full Width ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Matthew Effects

AbstractThis chapter develops a research agenda for examining family policy outcomes with respect to vertical economic inequality between households, arguing that family policies have wrongly been neglected as a determinant of vertical economic inequality. Three questions are central to this research agenda: who uses family policy, to what income effect, and with whom do people live? Family policies have been linked to women’s employment and earnings, and to lower vertical income inequality. Yet, the literature also makes abundantly clear that family policies come with trade-offs along the lines of gender and class, as well as Matthew effects. These mechanisms need to be better understood to integrate family policy in analyses of—and recommendation against—high and rising inequality. The challenge ahead is to understand what (combination of) family policies may be inclusive to a wide range of families across the full width of the income distribution.

scholarly journals EVOLUTION OF STATE FAMILY POLICY IN RUSSIA FROM SOVIET TIMES TO THE PRESENT

2013 ◽  
pp. 155-159
Author(s):  
A. V. Noskova
Keyword(s):  
State Policy ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Family Relations ◽  
The State ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
State Activity ◽  
The Family ◽  
The One ◽  
Family State ◽  
Soviet Model

The paper describes some peculiarities in evolution of the State family politics and policies in Russia since the beginning of the XX century to present time. The aim of the paper is to shed light on the family state policy in Russia during the different periods of time. We define here the family state policy widely enough as the various state activity (ideological, legislative, economic, social) concerning institute of family. The analysis of the state measures concerning the family in different social and political contexts allowed us to allocate the five main stages and models of the family state policy in Russia. They are: the post-revolutionary model (1917-1926), the «Stalin» model (1927-1953), the "welfare" Soviet model (1954-1991), the yearly post- Soviet model (1991-2005), the modern model (since 2006). The paper is based on the some demographic and sociological surveys data and devoted to an analysis of the family changes in these various periods. On the one hand, the family policies were a reaction to new social requirements and demographic changes (decline of fertility, for example). On the other hand, the state activity concerning a family itself caused transitions in the family institute. We show how various measures of soviet and post-soviet family policies and public interventions in family life have influenced on the family relations.

Family Policies, Wage Structures, and Gender Gaps: Sources of Earnings Inequality in 20 Countries

2005 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 949-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadas Mandel ◽  
Moshe Semyonov
Keyword(s):  
Gender Gap ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Wage Structure ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Earnings Inequality ◽  
Wage Determination ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Wage Structures

This study uncovers an unexpected effect of family-friendly policies on women's economic attainments. Using hierarchical linear models, the analysis combines individual-level data (obtained from the Luxembourg Income Study) with country-level data (obtained from secondary sources) to evaluate the effects of family policies on gender earnings inequality across 20 advanced societies. The analysis shows that gender earnings disparities are less pronounced in countries with developed family policies. However, the findings also show that if cross-country differences in the wage structure are controlled, the underlying effect of family policy on the gender gap is exposed. Although “mother-friendly” policies enable more women to become economically active, they exacerbate gender occupational inequality. The authors therefore conclude that the lower earnings differentials between men and women in developed welfare states should be attributed to their more egalitarian wage structures rather than to their family policies. The paradoxical implications of policies intended to reconcile paid and unpaid work as well as the mechanisms that cause these policies to widen the gender earnings gap are discussed and evaluated in light of sociological theories on the role of family policy and wage determination institutions in contemporary societies.

Policy Generosity, Employer Heterogeneity, and Women’s Employment Opportunities: The Welfare State Paradox Reexamined

2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 508-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunmi Mun ◽  
Jiwook Jung
Keyword(s):  
Welfare State ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Government Mandates ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Welfare State

Scholars of comparative family policy research have raised concerns about potential negative outcomes of generous family policies, an issue known as the “welfare state paradox.” They suspect that such policies will make employers reluctant to hire or promote women into high-authority jobs, because women are more likely than men to use those policies and take time off. Few studies, however, have directly tested this employer-side mechanism. In this article, we argue that due to employer heterogeneity, as well as different modes of policy intervention such as mandate-based and incentive-based approaches, generous family policies may not always lead to employer discrimination. Adopting a quasi-experimental research design that classifies employers based on their differential receptivity to family policy changes, we compare their hiring and promotion of women before and after two major family policy reforms in Japan, one in 1992 and another in 2005. Our analysis using panel data of large Japanese firms finds little evidence of policy-induced discrimination against women. Instead, we find that employers who voluntarily provided generous leave benefits prior to government mandates or incentives actually hired and promoted more women after the legal changes, and employers who provided generous benefits in response to government incentives also increased opportunities for women.

scholarly journals Family policy as an institutional context of economic inequality

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rense Nieuwenhuis ◽  
Ariana Need ◽  
Henk van der Kolk
Keyword(s):  
Family Policy ◽  
Economic Inequality ◽  
Institutional Context ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Women's Employment ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Women’S Employment ◽  
Tax Benefits ◽  
Contextual Determinants ◽  
Women's Earnings

It is demonstrated that family policies are an important aspect of the institutional context of earnings inequality among coupled households. Although seldom integrated into prominent analyses of economic inequality, women’s earnings are consistently found to reduce relative inequality among households. This means that family policies, as well-known determinants of women’s employment and earnings, are important contextual determinants of economic inequality. Using Luxembourg Income Study data from 18 OECD countries in the period 1981–2008, this study demonstrates that women have higher earnings, and that their earnings reduce inequality among coupled households more in institutional contexts with generous paid leave and public childcare. We found no sizeable association between financial support policies, such as family allowances and tax benefits to families with children, and the degree to which women’s earnings contribute to inequality among coupled households. Family policy arrangements that facilitate women’s employment and earnings are associated with less economic inequality among coupled households.

Understanding the Recent Expansion of Swiss Family Policy: An Idea-Centred Approach

2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL KUEBLER
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Maternity Leave ◽  
Major Change ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Value Orientations ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Advocacy Coalition ◽  
Power Shift

Conventional theoretical models of the welfare state have difficulties in accounting for the recent expansion of family policies in mature welfare states. This article uses an idea-centred approach, the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), to understand recent family policy change in Switzerland. In a review of conflicts over the introduction of paid maternity leave as well as child day care during the 1990s, two competing advocacy coalitions were identified. The first coalition aimed at restricting government programmes to the prevention of poverty of families, whereas the second advocated the inclusion of measures for the promotion of gender equality. Towards the end of the 1990s, some members of the first advocacy coalition revised their policy core beliefs and changed coalitions, as a consequence of cognitive framing strategies pursued by gender equality advocates. This led to a power shift within the family policy subsystem, resulting in major change of government programmes at all state levels. It is concluded that, on the basis of the ACF, family policy expansion can be coherently traced back to value orientations and cognitive processes.

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