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Investing in Children? Changes in Policies Concerning Children and Families in European Countries

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Children, Gender and Families in Mediterranean Welfare States

Part of the book series: Children¿s Well-Being: Indicators and Research ((CHIR,volume 2))

Abstract

Until recently children and families only played a marginal role in welfare politics. Prior to this shift within the political sphere, the main focus was placed upon protecting (male) workers against the risks associated with industrial work: old age, sickness, occupational accidents and unemployment. Women and children were protected indirectly by provision offered to the male breadwinner. Choices involving the structure of the family and the rearing of children were considered private matters. As a consequence, in the developed welfare states, the lion’s share of social spending was dedicated to pensions and health, while the share of the social budget that was spent on children and families only represented a marginal sum.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In the meantime a number of studies calculating the economic benefit of family policy measures were commissioned by the Ministry of Family Affairs (BMFSFJ). For example, one analysis by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) calculates the positive economic effects of the extension of facilities for early childcare and education at all levels of the federal state (central government, federal states and local authorities). Furthermore, in another study, Prognos-AG calculated the economic effects of family friendly measures for small- and midrange businesses. All these studies are available on the Ministry for Family Affairs homepage (http://www.bmfsfj.de).

  2. 2.

    In addition to these new measures in the field of family policy, in Spring 2002 the “Future, Education and Care” – 2003–2007 – (IZBB) initiative was launched by the federal government. As a reaction to the results of the PISA-study and the deficits in the supply of afterschool care, the federal government developed the aim to increase the number of all-day schools. 4 Billion Euro was spent by the federal government to enable the Länder to make about 40,000 schools in Germany all-day schools by 2007.

  3. 3.

    The Italian term for preschools in this law is “scuola maternal” (maternal schools).

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  1. Martin-Luther-Universität Halle/Wittenberg Institut für Pädagogik, Franckeplatz 1; Haus 6, 06099, Halle/Saale, Germany

    Thomas Olk

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  1. Paul Baerwald School of, Social Work & Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Giv'at Ram, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel

    Mimi Ajzenstadt

  2. Paul Baerwald School of, Social Work & Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Giv'at Ram, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel

    John Gal

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Olk, T. (2010). Investing in Children? Changes in Policies Concerning Children and Families in European Countries. In: Ajzenstadt, M., Gal, J. (eds) Children, Gender and Families in Mediterranean Welfare States. Children¿s Well-Being: Indicators and Research, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8842-0_1

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