Anne H. Gauthier

Family Policies in Industrialized Countries: Is There Convergence?

Abstract This article examines the trends in family policies in 22 industrialized countries since 1970. Based on time-series of indicators of cash benefits and support for working parents, it examines the hypothesis of convergence in national family policies. Results suggest that although all countries have increased their support for families since 1970, and all countries have adapted their policies to reflect the new demographic and economic realities of families, there has been no cross-national convergence. Results even suggest a divergence as captured by the growing cross-national dispersion of the family policy indicators. Results are thus in line with other studies of welfare states which have concluded that cross-national differences persist in spite of global macro-level factors.

Time Use at Older Ages Cross-National Differences

This article analyzes patterns of time use of older adults in the following nine countries: Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Using time-use surveys carried out in these countries between 1987 and 1992, the article describes country-level variations in the aggregate patterns of time use of older adults and examines changes in the patterns of time use associated with aging. The results suggest that there are large cross-national differences in the patterns of time use of older adults but remarkable similarities in the age patterns of activities. Results also suggest that a large fraction of time freed up by retirement from the labor market is reallocated to passive activities.

The social determinants of child health: variations across health outcomes - a population-based cross-sectional analysis.

BackgroundDisparities in child health outcomes persist despite advances in medical technology and increased global wealth. The social determinants of health approach is useful in explaining the disparities in health. Our objective in this paper is four-fold: (1) to test whether the income relationship (and the related income gradient) is the same across different child health outcomes; (2) to test whether the association between income and child health outcomes persists after controlling for other traditional socioeconomic characteristics of children and their family (education and employment status); (3) to test the role of other potentially mediating variables, namely parental mental health, number of children, and family structure; and (4) to test the interaction between income and education.MethodsThis population-based cross-sectional study used data from the 2003 US National Survey of Childrens Health involving 102,353 children aged 0 to 17 years. Using multivariate logistic regression models, the association between household income, education, employment status, parental mental health, number of children, family structure and the following child health outcomes were examined: presence or absence of asthma, headaches/migraine, ear infections, respiratory allergy, food/digestive allergy, or skin allergy.ResultsWhile the associations of some determinants were found to be consistent across different health outcomes, the association of other determinants such as household income depended on the specific outcome. Controlling for other factors, a gradient association persisted between household income and a child having asthma, migraine/severe headaches, or ear infections with children more likely to have the illness if their family is closer to the federal poverty level. Potentially mediating variables, namely parental mental health, number of children, and family structure had consistent associations across health outcomes.ConclusionThere appears to be evidence of an income gradient for certain child health outcomes, even after controlling for other traditional measures of socioeconomic status. Our study also found evidence of an association between certain child health outcomes and potential mediating factors.

The Transition to Adulthood: A Time Use Perspective

This article examines the changes in the patterns of time use of young adults ages eighteen to thirty-four as they make the transition to adulthood. More specifically, it examines the reallocation of time associated with the transition from school to work, the transition to partnership, and the transition to parenthood. The empirical analysis is based on time use surveys from nine industrialized countries. Results suggest that of the three transitions, it is the transition to parenthood that most significantly alters the pattern of time use of young people, more so for women than for men. The empirical analysis also reveals remarkable similarities across countries in the patterns of time use of young people as they make the transition to adulthood.

Historical trends in state support for families in Europe (post-1945)

Abstract This paper examines the trends in state support for families in Europe since 1945. Trends in family allowances, maternity leave, childcare facilities, and related programs are analyzed. Four main conclusions emerge. First, state support for families followed a different course than other components of the welfare states during the 1945–1997 period. State support for families increased only moderately during the 1950s–60s golden age of the welfare states, but has not experienced major decreases since the 1970s. Secondly, the analysis revealed considerable inter-country variations that cut across conventional welfare state or family policy typologies. Thirdly, the trends in state support for families have reduced the cost of children, but have not eliminated entirely the opportunity cost of childbearing. Large inter-country variations were also found in this respect. Finally, results provide no convincing evidence that the aging of the population in Europe is having a strong negative consequence on state support for families.

The time allocation to children by parents in Europe

This article examines cross-national differences in the time parents allocate to their children using aggregate data from 15 countries collected as part of the Harmonized European Time Use Survey (HETUS). The analysis is restricted to married or cohabiting parents with at least one child under the age of seven. Results show large differences between countries; differences which appear to be associated with four main national characteristics: the countries’ level of economic development, the number of hours spent in paid work, values regarding gender roles, and post-materialist values. Some elements of the countries’ work–family policies also appear to matter but their overall effect is less conclusive.

Les politiques familiales dans les pays industrialisés : y a-t-il convergence ?

Cet article examine l’evolution des politiques familiales depuis 1970 dans 22 pays industrialises. A partir de series chronologiques d’indicateurs des prestations en especes et de l’aide apportee aux parents qui ont un emploi remunere, l’article examine l’hypothese de convergence des politiques familiales. Bien que tous les pays aient accru l’aide aux familles depuis 1970 et que tous aient adapte leurs politiques afin de mieux repondre aux nouvelles realites demographiques et economiques des familles, il n’y a pas eu de convergence. Au contraire, les resultats suggerent une divergence accrue entre pays et concordent avec ceux d’autres etudes consacrees a l’Etat-providence, qui ont conclu a la persistance de differences entre pays malgre la presence de facteurs globaux observes a l’echelle internationale.

Historical Trends in the Patterns of Time Use of Older Adults

This paper examines trends in the patterns of time use of older adults, from the 1970s to the 1990s. Using data from time use surveys, trends in three countries are examined: the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. As expected, results suggest that time spent on paid work has decreased over time for men (but not in the United States), especially at older ages. For older men, time that used to be allocated to paid work appears to have been reallocated to housework and leisure activities. For women, an opposite trend was observed with an increase in time devoted to paid work and a decrease in time devoted to housework. Women still devote more time to housework than men, but the gender gap has been reduced in all countries. Results also suggest that men and women aged 65–74 years old have led a more active life since the 1970s. Results for other seniors are mixed and highly depend on the definition of active life.

A cross-national multi-level study of family meals

This article aims to broaden the understanding of the factors that predict the frequency of meals a family takes as a unit, as well as to assess the potential role country-level variables may have in accounting for cross-national differences in the frequency of family meals. Logistic regression and logistic hierarchical modeling are employed to achieve this goal. Findings indicate that family functioning and family composition predict the frequency of family meals and that country-level values help to explain international variations. The article concludes with directions for future research.

Do We Invest Less Time in Children? Trends in Parental Time in Selected Industrialized Countries Since the 1960's

This paper examines trends in parental time in selected industrialized countries since the 1960s using time-use survey data. Despite the time pressures to which today’s families are confronted, parents appear to be devoting more time to children than they did some 40 years ago. Results also suggest a decrease in the differences between fathers and mothers in time devoted to children. Mothers continue to devote more time to childcare than fathers, but the gender gap has been reduced. These results are observed in several countries and therefore suggest a large global trend towards an increase in parental time investment with their children.