Family policy: Finding the optimal concept for family assistance

Family policy has moved to the centre of the political agenda because of its close links to demographic and growth policies. All agree on the need for of an effective family policy, but what concept is the best? Christa Stewens, Bavarian State Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, Family and Women, stresses that family policy must be holistic and sustainable. Malte Ristau, Federal Ministry for Families, Seniors, Women and Youth, points out that family policy focused only on monetary assistance is a far too narrow approach. Reinhard Klingholz, Berlin Institute for Population and Development, shows that interestingly enough countries in which traditional roles for woman and families prevail have lower fertility rates than those in which gender equality has advanced the most. Bertram Wiest and Stefan Schaible, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, stress the high amount of state expenditures for family services in Germany. "Money itself is not lacking but a targeted spending strategy." For Michael Steiner, Michael Böhmer and Christian Böllhoff, of Prognos AG, Basel, family policy must adapt to new family models and create both more scope for families and also ensure equal opportunity. Also for Christel Humme, family-policy speaker of the SPD parliamentary group, the correct mixture between infrastructure, time and money for families is crucial.