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Measuring the Generosity of Parental Leave Policies

Author

Listed:
  • Adeline Otto

    (Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Belgium)

  • Alzbeta Bártová

    (Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Belgium)

  • Wim Van Lancker

    (Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Belgium)

Abstract

In order to investigate and compare welfare states or specific welfare programmes, scientists, opinion‐makers and politicians rely on indicators. As many of the concepts or objects studied are somewhat abstract, these indicators can often only be approximations. In comparative welfare‐state research, scholars have suggested several approximating indicators to quantitatively measure and compare the generosity of public welfare provision, with a special focus on cash benefits. These indicators include social spending, social rights and benefit receipt. We present these indicators systematically, and critically discuss how suitable they are for comparing the generosity of parenting leave policies in developed welfare states. Subsequently, we illustrate how the operationalisation of leave generosity by means of different indicators can lead to different rankings, interpretations and qualifications of countries. Hence, indicator choices have to be considered carefully and suitably justified, depending on the actual research interest.

Suggested Citation

  • Adeline Otto & Alzbeta Bártová & Wim Van Lancker, 2021. "Measuring the Generosity of Parental Leave Policies," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 238-249.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:socinc:v:9:y:2021:i:2:p:238-249
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    2. Johan De Deken & Jochen Clasen, 2013. "Benefit dependency: The pros and cons of using “caseload” data for national and international comparisons," International Social Security Review, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 66(2), pages 53-78, April.
    3. Chiara Pronzato, 2009. "Return to work after childbirth: does parental leave matter in Europe?," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 341-360, December.
    4. Popova, Daria & Avram, Silvia, 2020. "Do welfare state taxes and transfers reduce gender income inequality? Evidence from eight European countries," EUROMOD Working Papers EM9/20, EUROMOD at the Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    5. Kenneth Nelson & Daniel Fredriksson & Tomas Korpi & Walter Korpi & Joakim Palme & Ola Sjöberg, 2020. "The Social Policy Indicators (SPIN) database," International Journal of Social Welfare, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 285-289, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sonja Blum & Ivana Dobrotić, 2021. "The Inclusiveness of Social Rights: The Case of Leave Policies," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 222-226.
    2. Wim Van Lancker & Hannah Zagel, 2022. "Family policy research in Europe," Chapters, in: Kenneth Nelson & Rense Nieuwenhuis & Mara A. Yerkes (ed.), Social Policy in Changing European Societies, chapter 3, pages 34-49, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Allan Puur & Sanan Abdullayev & Martin Klesment & Mark Gortfelder, 2023. "Parental Leave and Fertility: Individual-Level Responses in the Tempo and Quantum of Second and Third Births," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 39(1), pages 1-28, December.
    4. Alzbeta Bartova & Adeline Otto & Wim Van Lancker, 2022. "Making Parental Leave Policies Work for Single Mothers: Lessons from Europe," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 702(1), pages 129-148, July.

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