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_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

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European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)

 

QUALITY OF LIFE IN EUROPE: FAMILIES IN THE ECONOMIC CRISIS [27 March 2014]

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef1389.htm

or

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2013/89/en/4/EF1389EN.pdf

[full-text, 80 pages]

 

Author:

Sándor, Eszter; Ahrendt, Daphne; Kuenzi, Rachel

Summary:

The economic crisis has reshaped the lives of millions of European citizens. But how has it affected families with children? Children are more at risk of poverty or social exclusion than the overall population in a large majority of EU countries; hence, it is important to understand how the crisis has affected the households in which these children grow up. This report describes the changing quality of life across the EU for different types of families with children and compares their living standards and social situation. Grouping the EU Member States into four categories on the basis of the flexibility or otherwise of their family policies, it also examines potential patterns that may be related to different family policy approaches. Themes that emerge from the findings include the particular challenges facing lone parents, the greater difficulties facing jobless families since the onset of the crisis, and the increasing extent of conflict parents experience in seeking to balance their work and family lives. An executive summary is also available.

 

CONTENTS

Executive summary 7

Introduction 9

Aim and objectives of study 10

Families with children in the economic crisis 11

Conceptual framework 11

 

Chapter 1: Family types and structures in Europe 19

Different family types across the EU 20

Distribution of work in households 22

 

Chapter 2: Standards of living in European families 27

Economic strain 28

Household debt 30

Housing insecurity 30

Deprivation 31

 

Chapter 3: Work and work–life balance 35

Working hours and work preferences 36

Work–life conflict 38

Access to childcare services 40

 

Chapter 4: Subjective and mental well-being 43

Life satisfaction and happiness 44

Income and life satisfaction 45

Optimism about the future 46

Mental well-being 46

 

Chapter 5: Social exclusion 49

Wellbeing and family status 51

 

Chapter 6: Conclusions 53

Main findings 54

Policy pointers 56

 

Bibliography 58

 

Annex 1: Methodology 60

Annex 2: Selection of country groups 61

Annex 3: Additional tables 67

 

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