Dylematy polityki rodzinnej w Europie na przykładzie doświadczeń skandynawskich

Abstract

The article provides an analysis of the family policy in Sweden in broader Scandinavian and European contexts, with special attention given to the new welfare trends from the early 1990s to the late 2000s. Generous parental leave schemes, including the father’s quota, and public childcare have been for years the trademark of the Nordic countries. The author argues that despite recent changes and challenges, such as the introduction of private for-profit childcare providers and a home care allowance, Swedish and Nordic family policies have remained largely social-democratic in their underlying goals, such as gender equality, high employment and female labour force participation, universalism in providing social services, etc. These policies have  anaged to facilitate a balanced work-family model of dual earners and dual carers. They also contribute to a fertility rate much higher than in other parts of Europe.