Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Welfare State Support of Lone Parents — Nordic Approaches to a Complex and Ambiguous Policy Issue

  • Chapter
Changing Social Risks and Social Policy Responses in the Nordic Welfare States

  • 306 Accesses

Abstract

Changes in family structures and family life, such as the growth in lone-parent families, joint custody and shared parenting arrangements are creating new and multifaceted challenges for the capacity of the welfare state. In managing and regulating this complex issue, policymakers need to adjust traditional policies to allow for changes in the social conditions of today’s children and parents, including changes in setting the boundaries between the state and the family and in encouraging labour supply of all men and women. The chapter examines the extent to which Nordic family policy systems acknowledge policymakers’ need to adjust traditional policies to allow for changes in the social conditions of today’s children and parents, including changes in and responses to increasing diversity in the family as well as the form of their response. The question driving this chapter is to what extent are the Nordic countries adapting to changes in lone-parent families.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bergman, H. & Hobson, B. (2002) Compulsory Fatherhood. The Coding of Fatherhood in the Swedish Welfare State. In Hobson, B. (ed.), Making Men into Fathers. Men Masculinities and the Social Politics of Fatherhood. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beskæftigelsesministeriet (2009) Ordinært og ekstra børnetilskud til enlige forsørgere [Online]. http://www.bm.dk/Beskaeftigelsesomraadet/Ydelser/ Bornetilskud/Ordinaert %20og°/o20ekstra%20boernetilskud%20til%20enlige%20forsoergere.aspx [Accessed 6 September 2010].

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonoli, G. (2005) The Politics of the New Social Policies: Providing Coverage Against New Social Risks in Mature Welfare States, Policy & Politics, 33 (3), pp. 431–449.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonoli, G. (2006) New Social Risks and the Politics of Post-Industrial Social Policies. In Armingeon, K. & Bonoli, G. (eds), The Politics of Post-Industrial Welfare States. Adapting Post-War Social Policies to New Social Risks. Oxon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, J. (2006) Child Support and Child Poverty, Benefits, 14 (3), pp. 199–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, J. & Finch, N. (2002) A Comparison of Child Benefit Packages in 22 Countries. Research Report 174. London: Department of Work and Pensions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, J. R. & Terum, L. I. (1997) How Nordic is the Nordic Model? Social Assistance in a Comparative Perspective, Scandinavian Journal of Social Welfare, 6 (2), pp. 247–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Børnefamilieydelsesloven (2006) Bekendtgørelse af lov om en børnefamilieydelse, LBK nr 972 af 22709/2006 Gældende [Online]. https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=17547 [Accessed 6 September 2010].

    Google Scholar 

  • Eardley, T., Bradshaw, J., Ditch, J., Gough, I. & Whiteford, P. (1996) Social Assistance in OECD Countries: Volume I Synthesis Reports, Department of Social Security Research Report No. 46. London: HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellingsæter, A. L & Leira, A. (eds) (2006) Politicising Parenthood in Scandinavia. Gender Relations in Welfare States. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eydal, G. & Kröger, T. (2010) Nordic Family Policies: Constructing Contexts for Social Work with Families. In Forsberg, H. & Kröger, T. (eds), Social Work and Child Welfare Politics: Through Nordic Lenses. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forsberg, H. & Kröger, T. (2010) Social Work and Child Welfare Politics. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forssén, K. (2004) Single Parents in the Nordic Countries. NOSOSCO No. 23. Copenhagen: Nordic Social Statistical Committee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Försäkringskassan (2009a) Barnbidrag och flerbarnstillägg [Online]. http://www.forsakringskassan.se/privatpers/foralder/barnbidrag/ [Accessed 11 May 2009].

    Google Scholar 

  • Försäkringskassan (2009b) Underhållstöd [Online]. Försäkringskassan. http://www.forsakringskassan.se/privatpers/foralder/separerar/underhallstod/ [Accessed 11 May 2009].

    Google Scholar 

  • Försäkringskassan (2010) Barnbidrag och flerbarnstillägg [Online]. http://www.forsakringskassan.se/irj /go/km/docs/fk_publishing/Dokument/Publikationer/ Faktablad/ff_4058_barnbidrag_flerbarnstillagg.pdf [Accessed 6 September 2010].

    Google Scholar 

  • Fritzell, J., Bäckman, O. & Ritakallio, V-M. (2012) Income Inequality and Poverty: Do the Nordic Countries Still Constitute a Family of their Own? In Kvist, J., Fritzell, J., Hvinden, B., Kangas, O. (eds), Changing Social Equality. The Nordic Welfare Model in the 21st Century. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gauthier, A-H. (1996) The State and the Family. A Comparative Analysis of Family Policies in Industrialized Countries. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gornick, J. & Meyers, M. (2003) Families that Work. New York: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough, I, Bradshaw, J, Ditch, J, Eardley, T & Whiteford, P. (1997) Social Assistance in OECD Countries, Journal of European Social Policy, 7 (1), pp. 17–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haataja, A. & Nyberg, A. (2006) Diverging Paths? The Dual-Earner/Dual-Career Model in Finland and Sweden in the 1990s. In Leira, A. & Ellingsæter, A. L. (eds), Politicising Parenthood in Scandinavia. Gender Relations in Welfare States. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakovirta, M. (2009) Employment and Incomes of Lone Mothers. In Koistinen, P., Mosesdottir, L. & Serrano Pascual, A. (eds), Emerging Systems of Work and Welfare. Brussels: Peter Lang.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakovirta, M. & Rantalaiho, M. (2011) Nordic Family Policy and Shared Parenthood, European Journal of Social Security, 13 (2), pp. 247–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiilamo, H. (2002) The Rise and Fall of Nordic Family Policy. Historical Development and Changes During the 1990s in Sweden and Finland. Stakes Research Report 125. Helsinki: Stakes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiilamo, H. (2009) Divergences in the Nordic Model: Economic Consequences of Partnership Dissolution in Sweden and Finland. In Andress, H-J. & Hummelsheim, D. (eds), When Marriage Ends: Economic and Social Economic Consequences of Partnership Dissolution. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobson, B. (ed.) (2002) Making Men into Fathers. Men Masculinities and the Social Politics of Fatherhood. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huber, E. & Stephens, J. (2006) Combating Old and New Social Risks. In Armingeon, K. & Bonoli, G. (eds), The Politics of Post-Industrial Welfare States. Adapting Post-War Social Policies to New Social Risks. London/New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansson, H. & Hvinden, B. (2007) Nordic Activation Reforms in a European Context: A Distinct Universalistic Model? In Johansson, H. & Hvinden, B. (eds), Citizenship in Nordic Welfare State. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kela (2010) Lapsiperheelle [Online]. http://www.kela.fi/in/internet/suomi.nsf/NET/110701111752EH?OpenDocument [Accessed 6 September 2010].

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilkey, M. (2000) Lone Mothers Between Paid Work and Care. The Policy Regime in Twenty Countries. Ashgate: Alhershot.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kröger, T. (2010) Lone Mothers and the Puzzles of Daily Life: Do Care Regimes Really Matter? International Journal of Social Welfare, 19 (4), pp. 390–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuivalainen, S. & Nelson, K. (2012) Eroding Minimum Income Protection in the Nordic Countries? Reassessing the Typical Character of Nordic Social Assistance. In Kvist, J., Fritzell, J., Hvinden, B. & Kangas, O. (eds), Changing Social Equality. The Nordic Welfare Model in the 21st Century. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lammi-Taskula, J. (2006) Nordic Men on Parental Leave: Can the Welfare State Change Gender Relations? In Ellingsæter, A-L. & Leira, A. (eds), Politicising Parenthood in Scandinavia. Gender Relations in Welfare States. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lødemel, I. & Schulte, B. (1992) Social Assistance: A Part of Social Security or the Poor Law in New Disquise? In European Institute of Social Research Reforms in Eastern and Central Europe: Beveridge 50 Years After. Leuven: Acco.

    Google Scholar 

  • MISSOC (2010) Mutual Information System on Social Protection. European Commission. http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catld=815&langld=en [Accessed 10 January 2011].

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss, P. (2010) International Review of Parental Leave Policies and Related Research 2010. Employment relations research series no. 115. BIS Department for Business Innovation & Skills. www.leavenetwork.org/fileadmin/ Leavenetwork/Annual_reviews/2010_annual_review.pdf [Accessed 1 November 2010].

    Google Scholar 

  • NAV (2010) Barnettygd www.nav.no/Familie/Barnetrygd [Accessed 6 September 2010].

    Google Scholar 

  • Nord (2010) Nordic Statistical Yearbook 2010. Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers.

    Google Scholar 

  • NOSOSCO (2009) Social Protection in the Nordic Countries: Scope, Expenditure and Financing 2007/2008. Copenhagen: Nordic Social-statistical Committee (NOSOSCO).

    Google Scholar 

  • NOU (2008) Med barnet i fokus — en gjennomgang av barnelovens regler om foreldreansvar, bosted og samvær, Norges Offentlige Utredninger 2008: 9, Oslo, Barne- og likestillingsdepartementet.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2011) Doing Better for Families. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rantalaiho, M. (2010) Rationalities of Cash-for-Childcare: The Nordic Case. In Sipilä, J., Repo, K. & Rissanen, T. (eds), Cash for Child Care: The Consequences for Caring Mothers. Cheltenham: Edgar Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray, R., Gornick, J. C. & Schmitt, J. (2010) Who Cares? Assessing Generosity and Gender Equality in Parental Leave Policy Designs in 21 Countries, Journal of European Social Policy, 20 (3), pp. 196–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sipilä, J., Repo, K. & Rissanen, T. (eds) (2010) Cash-For-Childcare. The Consequences for Caring Mothers. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skevik, A. (2001) Lone Parents and Employment in Norway. In Millar, J. & Rowlingson, K. (eds), Lone Parents, Employment and Social Policy: Cross-National Comparisons. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skevik, A. (2006a) Women’s Citizenship in the Time of Activation: The Case of Lone Mothers in ‘Needs-Based’ Welfare States, Social Politics, 12 (1), pp. 42–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skevik, A. (2006b) Lone Motherhood in the Nordic Countries: Sole Providers in Dual-Breadwinner Regimes. In Ellingsæter, A-L. & Arnlaug, L. (eds), Politicising Parenthood in Scandinavia: Gender Relations in Welfare States. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, C., Bradshaw, J. & Davidson, J. (2007) Child Support Policy: An International Perspective. Department of Work and Pensions Research Report No 405. Leeds: Corporate Document Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, C. & Curry-Sumner, I. (2009) The UK Child Support Policies: Principles and Formulae’. In Curry-Sumner, I. & Skinner, C. (eds), Persistent Problems, Finding Solutions. Child Maintenance in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Nijmegen: Wolf Legal Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, C. & Davidson, J. (2009) Recent Trends in Child Maintenance Schemes in 14 Countries, International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family, 23 (1), pp. 25–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor-Gooby, P. (2004) New Risks and Social Change. In Taylor-Gooby, P. (ed.), New Risks, New Welfare. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Timonen, V. (2004) New Risks — Are They Still New for the Nordic Welfare States? In Taylor-Gooby, P. (ed.), New Risks, New Welfare. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wennberg, L. (2008) Social Security for Solo Mothers in Swedish and EU law. On the Constructions of Normality and the Boundaries of Social Citizenship. Uppsala: Justus Förlag AB.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wikeley, N. (2009) Child Support and Parental Responsibility. In Curry-Sumner, I. & Skinner, C. (eds), Persistent Problems, Finding Solutions. Child Maintenance in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Nijmegen: Wolf Legal Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Mia Hakovirta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Susan Kuivalainen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Minna Rantalaiho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Norway

    Ivan Harsløf

  2. Jönköping University & Linnaeus University, Sweden

    Rickard Ulmestig

Copyright information

© 2013 Mia Hakovirta, Susan Kuivalainen and Minna Rantalaiho

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hakovirta, M., Kuivalainen, S., Rantalaiho, M. (2013). Welfare State Support of Lone Parents — Nordic Approaches to a Complex and Ambiguous Policy Issue. In: Harsløf, I., Ulmestig, R. (eds) Changing Social Risks and Social Policy Responses in the Nordic Welfare States. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137267191_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation