German family policy at the crossroads: Analysing the impact of parental leave reform through simulation
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German family policy at the crossroads : Analysing the impact of parental leave reform through simulation. / Wüst, Miriam.
I: International Journal of Social Welfare, Bind 18, Nr. 4, 01.01.2009, s. 407-418.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - German family policy at the crossroads
T2 - Analysing the impact of parental leave reform through simulation
AU - Wüst, Miriam
PY - 2009/1/1
Y1 - 2009/1/1
N2 - Comparative studies of welfare reforms encounter two problems. First, the counterfactual problem is that in the real world schemes and their reforms do not coexist simultaneously and are hard to compare. Second, the contextual problem derives from the absence of comparable measures for change. Microsimulation helps to overcome these problems. It compares policy options - actual reforms or reform plans - simultaneously and provides a comparable measure: the disposable income of model families. This article uses a type-case approach to investigate recent reforms of the German parental leave benefit. Simulation makes those reforms comparable over time and across countries. Results show that the profile of the German scheme is changing from 'general family' towards 'dual-earner' support. Furthermore, the recent reforms make the German scheme converge towards the Swedish leave scheme. The recent reforms introduce a new concept of fairness and a focus on gender equality to German family policies.
AB - Comparative studies of welfare reforms encounter two problems. First, the counterfactual problem is that in the real world schemes and their reforms do not coexist simultaneously and are hard to compare. Second, the contextual problem derives from the absence of comparable measures for change. Microsimulation helps to overcome these problems. It compares policy options - actual reforms or reform plans - simultaneously and provides a comparable measure: the disposable income of model families. This article uses a type-case approach to investigate recent reforms of the German parental leave benefit. Simulation makes those reforms comparable over time and across countries. Results show that the profile of the German scheme is changing from 'general family' towards 'dual-earner' support. Furthermore, the recent reforms make the German scheme converge towards the Swedish leave scheme. The recent reforms introduce a new concept of fairness and a focus on gender equality to German family policies.
KW - Comparative welfare state research
KW - Germany
KW - Measurements of change
KW - Microsimulation
KW - Parental leave
KW - Type-case approach
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70349986190&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2008.00618.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2008.00618.x
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:70349986190
VL - 18
SP - 407
EP - 418
JO - International Journal of Social Welfare
JF - International Journal of Social Welfare
SN - 1369-6866
IS - 4
ER -
ID: 216248423