The parental allowance as an element of a sustainable family policy

A sustainable family policy acknowledges the contributions of the family to society and takes it as point of departure for the support of the family. It is characterized by a clear goal orientation and the integration of different policy measures into a comprehensive strategy. Based on this concept, the article reflects the historical evolution of family policy focusing on the question whether and to what extent a paradigm shift from compensation to active support has occurred in the interpretation of policies in the fields of infrastructure, time and money. This is essential for the historical genesis of the parental allowance, considering that the emergence of the concept of a sustainable family policy was based on this paradigm shift. By means of reconstructing the conceptual evolution and political implementation of the parental allowance since the 1970s, we argue that this political measure is the first to be integrated in such a concept. The analysis shows that even though the parental allowance is a progressive element of a sustainable family policy, the implementation of a comprehensive strategy still lacks a shift towards the life course perspective and an independent basic income for children. Adapted from the source document.