|
Title
|
|
|
|
Putting the child-centred investment strategy to the test : evidence for the EU27
| |
|
Author
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
| Under the social investment paradigm, a child-centred investment strategy has been developed. e mainstay of such a strategy is the provision of childcare services, which are expected to increase maternal employment rates, further childrens human capital and mitigate social inequalities in early life. In this article, I critically assess the child-centred investment strategy and question whether childcare services in European countries are, in their current state, up to the task of producing the anticipated bene ts. e argument I develop is fairly simple: in order to be e ective, childcare services should be provided for all social groups, and in particular for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Drawing on recent EU-SILC data, I show that in all but one country this condition is not met: childcare services are o en taken up at low or moderate levels, and children from low-income families use them to a much lesser extent than those from high-income families. In order to overcome these childcare de cits, countries should pursue a consistent investment strategy which entails increasing both the supply of childcare and employment opportunities for all social groups. is will require huge budgetary e orts for most member states. |
| |
|
Language
|
|
|
|
English
| |
|
Source (journal)
|
|
|
|
European journal of social security. - The Hague, 1999, currens
| |
|
Publication
|
|
|
|
The Hague
:
Kluwer Law International
,
2013
| |
|
ISSN
|
|
|
|
1388-2627
[print]
2399-2948
[online]
| |
|
Volume/pages
|
|
|
|
15
:1
(2013)
, p. 4-27
| |
|
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
|
|
|
|
| |
|