Keywords

General description

The course introduces students with the trends of the family transformations in EU member states, with basic concepts and measures of family policies and its? research. Much attention is paid to the assessment of family policy measures with regard to the promotion of work-family reconciliation and gender equality in European societies. Key issues for the course are such: Family transformation in EU member states; The theoretical approach to family policy research; Family policy models; Measures of family policy in EU; The consequences of family policies.

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to deepen students? theoretical knowledge on family policy and to enhance students? practical skills in its advanced research, paying special attention to the comparative analysis and family policy measures in different welfare regimes.
On completion of the course, students will obtain knowledge and skills that enable them:
- to analyze the family as social institution;
- to describe the theoretical approaches for family policy research;
- to identify and describe family policy models;
- identify, describe and analyze measures of family policies applied at EU and national levels in various stages of the family life;
- to critically assess the consequences of family policies in EU member states.

Contents

Family transformation in EU member states: Dynamics of fertility and partnership statistics. New partnership patterns (cohabitation, LAT, etc.). Divorces. One-parent families. Single motherhood. The theoretical approach to family policy research: Three conceptualizations of family policies. The ?narrow? and ?broad? concept of family policies. Family policy models: Subjects and objects of family policies. The market?state?family relationship in welfare regimes.
Measures of family policy in EU: Family-friendly environment. Measures for the work-family reconciliation and gender equality promotion. Flexible working-time arrangements. Parental leave facilities. Childcare services. Financial allowances.
The consequences of family policies: The impact of family policies on matrimonial and procreative behaviour / statistics. The evaluation of the objectives and measures for family formation and fertility encouragement in EU member states. Family policy development provisions in international documents / legislation.

Teaching language

English

Evaluation and evaluation criteria

Numeric 1-5.
Students are assessed for the work done, which includes active participation in on-line discussions, independent (individual) work - reading and study of the course materials and writing of final paper in one of the areas covered in the course.

Study materials

Full reading list will be provided in the beginning of the course.

Recommended literature:

1. Höhn C., Avramov D., Kotowska I. (Eds.). 2008. People, Polulation Change and Policies. Lessons from the Population Policy Acceptance Study. Volume 1. Springer.

2. Höhn C., Avramov D., Kotowska I. (Eds.) 2008. People, Polulation Change and Policies. Demographic knowledge – Gender – Ageing. Volume 2. Springer.

3. Neyer G., Andersson G. Consequences of Family Policies on Childbearing Behavior: Effects or Artifacts? http://www.demogr.mpg.de/papers/working/wp-2007-021.pdf. MPIDR Working Paper WP websource, 2007

4. Crompton, R., Lewis, S., Lyonette, C. (eds). 2007. Women, men, work, and family in Europe.  Palgrave, Macmillan.

5. Crompton R. 2006. Employment and the family: the reconfiguration of work and family life in contemporary societies. Cambridge University Press.

6. Haas, L., Wisensale, S.K. (eds.) 2006. Families and social policy: national and international perspectives. Binghamton (N.Y.): Haworth Press.

7. Bradshaw, J., Cheltenham, A.H. (eds). 2006. Social policy, employment, and family change in comparative perspective /edited by Jonathan Bradshaw and Aksel Hatland Cheltenham; Northampton (Mass.): Edward Elgar.

8. Reconcilation of work and private life: A comparative review of thirty European countries. http://www.cecot.es/harmonitzacio/documentacio/estudi%20CE.pdf. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities social policy department, websource. 2005.

9. White, J. M. 2005. Advancing family theories. SAGE Publications.

10. Family policy in Lithuania: principles and actions. Vilnius: Lithuanian Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, 1996.

Belongs to following study modules