Rising birth rate in Sweden: a consequence of the welfare state and family policy?

Abstract

While most western countries today report low birth rates, Sweden ranks the third highest in Europe and exceeds the replacement level. This is in contrast to the level around 1980 when Sweden had one of the lowest birth rates in its history. The theme of this article is that the dramatic increase during the last decade, at least partly, is an effect of the Swedish family policy. This policy is characterized by publicly run ser vices for children, support for mothers' employment, support for father involvement, and support for single mothers. According to the empirical evidence, the model works: children do well in subsidized child care, they do not suffer from mother's work involvement, fathers are becoming more involved in child care with beneficial effects on children, and children of single mothers also do well, most certainly if father contact is maintained. Because the stresses of combining employment and par enthood have been reduced, Swedish parents want more children.