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A Gender Equalizing Regulatory Welfare State? Enacting the EU’s Work-Life Balance Directive in Denmark and Poland

Author

Listed:
  • Caroline De La Porte
  • Trine P. Larsen
  • Dorota Szelewa

Abstract

This article examines the implementation of the European Union’s (EU) work-life balance directive in Denmark and Poland through examining the earmarking of paid parental leave. This enables us to assess whether the EU could be emerging as a gender equalizing regulatory welfare state (RWS). Our analysis points to tensions arising when regulatory decisions are made at a higher level of governance but require implementation and funding at lower levels of governance. In both countries, there are similar parental leave schemes ex-ante, and major actors had similar initial stances on parental leave, favoring stagnation. Yet the plans to implement show how the actors’ positions changed, and the likely result is extended parental leave, with payment (known as double expansion) and more gender-equal participation (degenderization) in parental leave. Although in two different institutional settings, the similar outcome suggests that these changes are due to the European Union acting as an emerging RWS, which influences Member States’ regulatory instruments with fiscal elements.

Suggested Citation

  • Caroline De La Porte & Trine P. Larsen & Dorota Szelewa, 2020. "A Gender Equalizing Regulatory Welfare State? Enacting the EU’s Work-Life Balance Directive in Denmark and Poland," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 691(1), pages 84-103, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:691:y:2020:i:1:p:84-103
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716220956910
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Avishai Benish & David Levi-Faur, 2020. "The Expansion of Regulation in Welfare Governance," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 691(1), pages 17-29, September.
    2. Scharpf, Fritz W., 2002. "The European Social Model: Coping with the challenges of diversity," MPIfG Working Paper 02/8, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
    3. Falkner, Gerda & Hartlapp, Miriam & Leiber, Simone & Treib, Oliver, 2002. "Transforming social policy in Europe? The EC's parental leave directive and misfit in the 15 member states," MPIfG Working Paper 02/11, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
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