Conference Agenda

The Nordic model has been seen as recipe for combining high fertility and high maternal labor supply. Central European countries have in contrast been characterized by more limited support to families and lower fertility. In the recent decades, this apparent contrast is unravelling. In Central Europe, there has been large expansions in supports to families, and fertility has increased. At the same time, fertility has plummeted in the Nordic countries, despite continued extensive family support. As a result, TFR in Germany and the Nordics has converged. In this talk, I discuss how change and stability in family policies relate to fertility change, using the Nordic countries and Germany as contrasting cases. I discuss whether the increases in fertility in Germany is likely to be a temporary “honeymoon effect” due to improved policies. I anchor reflections on efficient fertility policies for future in lessons from the contrasting cases.