Das Elterngeld: Wahlfreiheit und Existenzsicherung für (alle) Eltern?

Sabina Schutter and Claudia Zerle-Elsäßer

WSI-Mitteilungen, 2012, vol. 65, issue 3, 216-225

Abstract: The German parental leave reform of 2007 was introduced as a major policy innovation in family policies, motivating parents to give birth to more children. The empirical evidence suggests that parental leave benefits cover basic living expenses– but only for working parents. However, the majority of mothers cannot afford a living on parental leave benefits and, instead, need support by the child’s father or by means-tested benefits. Moreover, the new parental leave seems to discourage people to have more children. The parental leave, therefore, does not achieve its main policy aims. Even worse, the most recent reforms of parental leave have tightened the eligibility criteria for poor and non-working parents. In the conclusion, the paper discusses ways out of the dilemma, suggesting some decisive reforms of the German parental leave legislation.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.5771/0342-300X-2012-3-216

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