Pro-Natal Policies Analysis

Pro-Natal Policies AnalysisPro-Natal Policies in Nor carriageBackgroundNorways h anest fetidness lay over the past 10 days is more or less 1.9, comp atomic number 18d to Singapores aver mature of 1.25 over the same period (The humankind Bank, 2014). Furthermore, 5 expose of 6 women between the ages of 30-39 still remain diligent (BBC News, 2006).Norway is Scadinavias richest country, enjoying an oil boom which started 40 geezerhood ago (Mohsin, 2014). some of its revenues argon channelled into a wealth fund that has accumulated to $890 billion, or around $170,000 per person. These oil revenues allow for large budget surpluses, protect government schemes from recessions, and support resources for the future (Rindfuss et al.).The Nordic welf atomic number 18 states view a long-running tradition of implementing policies say at the family (Rnsen, 2004). However, these policies atomic number 18 not for pro-natalist reasons, but rather based on their ideas of gender compara bility and a general concern for the head-being of families and their nestlingren. Also, Norse society holds the philosophy that baby birdren argon an essential part of society (Andersen, 2012).Policies pincer eudaimoniaThe child receipts is paid to all families with children below the age of 18 to cover their cost of having children (Ministry of Children, comparability and companionable Inclusion). It is paid per child from the month after the childs own till the month before the child turns 18. In 2012, the child get was 119 per month. A ace sufferr is entitled to an additional child benefit.P arntal Leave BenefitFamilies accept the agnate cast off benefit upon the consanguinitying of a child, a scheme that was started way back in 1956 (BBC, 2014 Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion, 2014). For well-nigh families, this continues until the child is about a form old. The name and address of the p atomic number 18ntal tole aim benefit is to make it financially feasible for one parent to make do for the child at home during its commencement year, as well as to facilitate equality in parenting. A period of 47 hebdomads with parental get by benefits, or 57 weeks with reduced benefits (80% of pay) is shared between the parents to provide income for the first year of the child (Anderson, 2012 Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion, 2014). aft(prenominal) the first year, the child is entitled to a place in a day-care eye and/or a bullion benefit.Mothers cook the right to parental leave benefits if they have kneaded for at least 6 out of the last 10 months (Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion). Mothers who do not fulfill this requirement have entitlement to a bulge sum maternity grant. In 2011, this grant was 4310 per child. The collar weeks before and six weeks after birth have to be interpreted by the mother as part of the parental leave benefit period. The father also has to fulfil a mini mum quota of leave (Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion, 2014 BBC News, 2014), with the Norwegian government has planning to lengthen this by one more week. The rest of the leave period peck be freely shared between both parents. When the father takes any leave extraneous of his quota, he has to take up primary care of the child. A goal of this is to allow for fathers to run more time alone with the child during the tot stage.Since the paid leave is financed by taxes, employers do not lose out when employees use their parental leave (BBC News, 2014). Funding for the parental leave benefits and lump sum maternity grants amount to about 1.83 billion (2011) (Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion). More than 80% of mothers and 70% of fathers are entitled to parental leave benefits.Cash BenefitFor one and 2 year olds, parents piece of ass rent between a place in a day-care snapper or receive a cash benefit (Ministry of Children, Equality and Social I nclusion). They force out also choose to combine a reduced dictate cash benefit with reduced time in a day-care centre. Only children who are one year of age can receive the cash benefit and are entitled to a maximum benefit period of 11 months. For cash benefits, only adept or half cash-benefits can be chosen. The cash benefit is approximately 404 per month (2011), is non-taxable, and is paid without income or means-testing.Day-careA child is entitled to a place at a day-care centre as soon as the child turns one-year old (Andersen, 2012). both(prenominal) public and private day-care centres are heavily subsidised by the state, and parents are means-tested and are charged accordingly at different rates. Fees are lie at 308 per month. This is in contrast to an average of 144 a week in Ireland. Furthermore, the childcare governance in Norway is risquely regulated and the bill of care is known to be of very high quality.EffectivenessA study by Lappegrd (2010) set up that po licies which promote involvement of fathers in childcare and gender equality such(prenominal) as paternal leave are positively associated with second births, while policies which grant general support for the family such as childcare cash benefits are positively related with tertiary births.Another study conducted by Zuvander, Lappegrd and Andersson (2010) found a positive linkup between fathers parental leave use and continued childbearing in Norway for one-child and two-child couples. For families with two children, an extended period of leave for the mother was positively associated with the birth of a third-child.Furthermore, using data from Norway, Rindfuss et al. (2007) showed that the greater availability of child-care centers leads to a junior age for the first birth, and that high quality and inexpensive child-care leads to increased child-bearing.However, Rnsen, a Norwegian statistician, claimed that implementing generous family policies do not guarantee high rankness (BBC News, 2014). Sweden is cited as an example, whereby birth rates have not modify even though family policies were as generous as in Norway. Sweden went by dint of a sharp increase in unemployment, after which the fertility rate fell from 2.1 in 1992 to 1.5 in 1997. It is believed that it is Norways combination of steady frugal growth and family policies that has kept birth rates high, since people have a tendency to postpone having children during periods of economic insecurity.Pro-Natal Policies in FranceBackgroundFrance has the second highest fertility rate in Europe, ranked after Ireland (France Diplomatie, 2013). In 2012, the fertility rate was 2.01, close to the replacement rate of 2.1. The birth rate has been increasing since 1995, and this motility has often been linked with many family policies during that period (Laroque and Salani, 2008). In addition, France still maintains a high rate of female employment 85% of women are engaged (France Diplomatie, 2013).In Fra nce, fulfilment comes about from a rewarding family and social purport (France Diplomatie, 2013). A 2011 study found that close to 60% of young cut people were keen to start a family and have children. This figure was the highest rate in Europe.PoliciesGenerous Monetary BenefitsWomen under maternity leave can receive full salary for 16 weeks, and are eligible to 26 weeks if the child is their third, and up to 34 weeks in the case of multiple births (European Union, 2014). Fathers are granted 11 consecutive days of paternity leave with full salary. Furthermore, families are entitled to monthly parental grant if one of the two parents stops working or reduces his/her working hours to care for a child under three years of age.In addition, parents receive a family readjustment after their second dependent child under 20 years of age (European Union, 2014). This monthly amount depends on the number of dependent children. After the third child, if the other two children are under 21 y ears, families are entitled to further family support amounting to 167.34. This is subject to means-testingFamilies can also receive assistance for their first child (European Union, 2014). For example, they can be paid a premium of 923.08 for a birth or 1846.15 for an adoption a monthly allowance to assist parents with raising and education costs for three years ( 184.62) family support allowance to divine service raise a child in the absence of help from one or both parents (ranging from 90.40 to 120.54), and a back-to-school allowance that is means-tested to help families with their childrens schooling costs ( 360.47 for 6 to 10 year olds, 380.36 for 11 to 14 year olds, 393.54 for 15 to 18 year olds) task concessions for big familiesLarge benefits stand to enjoy meaning(a) tax concessions, whereby families with at least three children benefit the to the highest degree (European Union, 2014). The French tax system is such that tax units are households, not individuals. Eac h household amounts to a number of shares determined by marital status and the number of children. matrimonial couples are entitled to two shares, a further half-share for the first two children, and an additional one share per child after the third child. disposed that taxable income is calculated as the total household income divided by the number of shares in a household, large families get to enjoy a significant reduction in taxes.Wide range of childcare serveFrance has a schoolwide childcare and pre-school system that allows parents to continue working (European Union, 2014). Nurseries are run by businesses, the local government, or parent associations. The fees for most nurseries are means-tested. Parents can also choose to hire a licensed childminder who can look after up to 4 children at his/her home. Also, pre-school in France is free. In addition, parents with children under the age of six can make use of outside centres, which are usually subsidised by the Familiy Al lowance Fund.EffectivenessLaroque and Salani (2008) found a notable impact of financial incentives on fertility peculiarly for the first and third child. Also, according to Letablier (2008), the main cause for Frances glorious fertility rate is likely due to the of support provided to parents to reduce the costs of children and in reconciling work and family life for mothers so that they can work and care for their children. The latter supports findings from a recent OECD report which found that the most effective policies to boost birth rates are the ones that help women to put forward career and family. According to the report, government expenditure to provide childcare to help families improve work-life balance is more effective in raising fertility rates than giving money to families to subsidise births (Silverman, 2011).What Can We Learn? How Do They Suit Their Respective Economies (welfare/open economy?)FranceFinancial incentives, though facilitative in increasing fertili ty to a certain extent, are not as effective as helping women to reconcile work and family by the availability of childcare services and parental leave programs. Concessions on taxation, nonetheless, whitethorn be a useful tool in raising birth rates.To boost fertility, government policy should utilise a wide chassis of instruments and measures to create a conducive environment for child-bearing. McDonald (2007) lends support to this by advocating for comprehensive policies over piecemeal policies, as the real importance of a case-by-case policy lies not in its econometric impact, but in how it adds to the way young people perceive their societys support for those who have children. It is the symbolic meanings of the policies that count most.NorwayFunding effective pro-natal policies may require substantial government spending, which may only be affordable to well-endowed and plastered countries without the possibility of a deficit. Economic stability may also be a pre-condition for high and steady birth rates.Policies that advocate gender equality in parenting may be effective in raising birth rate. Granting more paternal leave to fathers can be helpful, as well as setting a minimum quota of leave to encourage fathers to spend more time caring for the child. Also, the availability of good quality and affordable child-care services can help boost fertility.