Evaluating impact on economic protection
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Scope
Does the option affect the economic protection of the family and of children?[1]
Definition
In contrast to other sociopolitical concerns, governments in most European countries were rather late in explicitly accepting responsibility for family policy. As a separate field, family policy evolved very gradually throughout Europe, due not least to the demographic change and resultant impact on the social welfare systems in Europe. A common feature of family policy in Europe is its heterogeneity: at present defined exclusively by the Member States even within the European Union, family policy is characterised by a multitude of approaches, motivations and attendant political action.[1]
Comparative studies of international family policies are a relatively new field of research that has been growing only over the last two decades. An indication of this novel thrust is the high input required for comparative research on family policy measures at an international level. Studies of current family policy measures in the accession countries and non-EU countries in Europe are particularly scarce. The situation is further aggravated by the wide range of family policy tools available. Thus, in order to obtain a full-scale picture of family policy in any given country, it is necessary to include monetary, tax, infrastructure and in-kind types of benefits as well as the labour law framework into the analysis, to account for the enormous variations between systems.
Families in Luxembourg receive two and a half times more in cash benefits than the EU average, whereas families in Southern Europe get only about half that average. The variation between EU Member States reflects the different organisation of family benefits and the relative weight of cash benefits, benefits in kind and maternity benefits. Some countries accentuate cash benefits, while others put greater weight on benefits in kind and income replacement during maternity leave. Additionally, in some countries family/child tax allowances are an important component of family benefits, though - with a few exceptions - these tax benefits are not regarded as social benefits.[1]
The level of per capita cash benefits also depends on national legislation. Thus, there are wide variations in family allowances, which are the main component of cash benefits. The age limit for receipt of this benefit ranges from 16 to 20, although some countries continue to make payments to young people still in training or education. National variations also derive from the adjustment of benefits as a function of age and income. Even though it is not feasible to calculate the average family allowance per child, it is still clear that a less favourable situation prevails in Southern European countries. [1]
Result
Indicators:
The following Eurostat Structural Indicators (Social cohesion) are relevant to address the key question:
- Inequality of income distribution
- At-Risk-of-poverty-rate before social transfer
- At-Risk-of-poverty-rate after social transfer
- At-Persistent-risk-of-poverty-rate
- Population living in jobless households (people aged 18+)
- Population living in jobless households (children aged 0-17)[1]
The following Eurostat Sustainable Development Indicators (Poverty and social exclusion, Economic Development) are relevant to address the key question:
- At risk of poverty rate
- At risk-of-poverty rate after social transfers, total
- At risk-of-poverty rate after social transfers by household type
- At-Persistent-risk-of-poverty-rate
- People living in Jobless households, by age group
- Inequality of income distribution (Income quintile share ratio)[1]
MISSOC, the Mutual Information System on Social Protection in the EU Member States, is also highly serviceable when an overview of family benefits is needed, both at a European level and in any of the Member States. Family policies and family benefits are not centrally regulated in the European Union and therefore vary between countries. The information provided by the system is short but to the point, listing the full range of family benefits from child-raising allowances to education grants. By stating the underlying principles, eligibility criteria as well as type and scope of benefits, the system provides the foundation for a comparison of EU Member States:
See also
References
This text is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace any reference documents. The text is adapted from: