Pourquoi réformer la politique d'accueil de la petite enfance en France ? Comparaison avec les politiques d'autres pays de l'OCDE

Summary: Social spending supporting families are especially high in France compared to other OECD countries. They are quite equally splitted in cash benefits and spending on childcare services. They also benefit to all households, including the richer. French institutional setting is also characterized by a "dual" system of support which allows to combine work and family life, but also support those parents who interrupt their career in order to care for their young child. A "double free choice" is consequently theoretically offered, but is not effective because of strong inequalities according to income level and gender. A more continuous and effective support to gender equality, and to the reconciliation of work and family life could be achieved by a shortening of parental leave and an simultaneous expansion of the supply in childcare services, as in Nordic countries. The additional spending following such a reform would raise the total amount spent on early childhood from 1,3 to 1,8% of the GDP.