The Electoral Politics of Employment-Centred Family Policy

• In Event: 244 - Regular Session. Nation-State Welfare Policy

Abstract

This study explores the electoral consequences of reforms to employment-centered family policies. The literature motivates hypotheses by party family and welfare state regime. The findings indicate that left parties systematically gain votes for expanding daycare. Governments within the social democratic regime significantly gain votes for expanding daycare and weeks of leave, whereas governments within the liberal regime lose for expanding weeks of leave. These findings are explored further to assess the lessons about the role of vote-seeking incentives in employment-centered family policy reform.

Author

• Moira Nelson, Lund University