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ARTICLES

Leave policy in the Nordic welfare states: a ‘recipe’ for high employment/high fertility?

Pages 1-19 | Received 29 Aug 2006, Published online: 04 Feb 2009
 

Abstract

Predicted population decline and labour shortages in European welfare states are directing attention to policy strategies that might increase women's employment and fertility rates. In this context, the Nordic welfare states’ blend of high female employment rates and relatively high fertility levels stands out from others. These patterns are accompanied by comprehensive work–family policies indicating that policy reform is a main explanation. A core element in Nordic work–family policies is generous leave of absence arrangements for parents. In scrutinising leave policy in a Nordic context, the analysis in this paper emphasises that the current situation is a result of processes that have taken a long time to unfold, and that leave policy reforms interact with labour market developments and cultural institutions of family formation in shaping women's social practices.

La baisse prévisible de la population et de la population active dans les Etats-providences européens obligent à analyser les politiques susceptibles d'augmenter les taux d'emploi féminins ainsi que les taux de fécondité. Dans ce contexte, le mixte des pays nordiques consistant en de hauts taux d'emploi féminins et des taux de fécondité relativement élevés paraît particulièrement remarquable par rapport aux performances des autres. Ces résultats vont de pair avec des politiques de conciliation entre vie professionnelle et vie familiale qui mettent en évidence que les réformes des politiques en constitue l'explication principale. Le généreux congé parental constitue le cæur des politiques de conciliation nordiques. Lorsqu'on étudie la politique de congé dans un contexte nordique, on voit que la situation actuelle est le résultat d'un processus qui a pris beaucoup de temps et que les réformes en matière de congé parental sont en constante interaction avec les évolutions du marché du travail et les institutions qui accompagnent la formation de la famille.

Acknowledgements

I thank two anonymous referees, Lise Kj⊘lsr⊘d, Heidi Nicolaisen, Christèle Meilland, and Dominique Meda for useful comments.

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