Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T03:34:50.010Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comparing National Priorities: Family and Population Policy in Britain and France*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2009

John Baker
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The recent discussion of the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme in Britain in terms of the unfavourable demographic position early next century has highlighted how little attention is normally paid by British politicians and social policy analysts to population size and structure. Further, the attention is normally confined to the question of how policy should adapt to demographic change, rather than how to modify it, although Britain has an implicit policy of restricting family size. Britain is not alone in this but many countries show more concern about the future of their population and some wish to increase it. Among these is France. This article compares Britain and France: first, over the priority given to demographic issues by statesmen and academics; and second, over the advantages and problems seen in different demographic futures. It argues that family policy needs to be seen in a demographic context.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Social Policy , Volume 15 , Issue 4 , October 1986 , pp. 421 - 442
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ardagh, J. (1982), France in the 1980s, Penguin, Harmondsworth, Middlesex.Google Scholar
Baker, J. (1979), ‘Social Conscience and Social Policy’, Journal of Social Policy, 8:2, 177–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bastide, H., Girard, A., , A. et Roussel, L. (1982), ‘Une enquete d'opinion sur la conjoncture démographique’. Population, No. 4.5, INED, Paris, 867–902.Google Scholar
Bergman, E. et al. (eds) (1974) Population Policy Making in the United States, Lexicon Books, Lexicon, Mass.Google Scholar
Biraben, J-N, et Dupaquier, J., Les Berceaux Vides De Marianne, Seuil, Paris.Google Scholar
Blanchet, D. et Blum, A. (1984), ‘Naissance, cout de l'enfant et activité de la mère’. Population, 2, INED, Paris, 281–293.Google Scholar
Brayshaw, A.J. (1980), Public Policy and Family Life, Policy Studies Institute Discussion Paper No. 3.Google Scholar
Brevan, B. et Norvez, A. (1981), Information et situation démographique. La Presse et la culture nationale sur la démographie francaise, INED, Paris, 1981.Google Scholar
Francais, Cahiers (1978), La France et sa population aujourd'hui, No. 184.Google Scholar
Calot, G. (1980), ‘Niveau de vie et nombre d'enfants’, Population, 1. INED, Paris, 9–55.Google Scholar
Carré, J.J., Dubois, P. et Malinvaud, E. (1972), La Croissance francaise, Seuil, Paris.Google Scholar
Cartwright, A. (1970), Parents and Family Planning, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.Google Scholar
Ceccaldi, D. (1957), Histoire des Prestations familiales en France, UNCAF, Paris.Google Scholar
Central Statistical Office (1984), Social Trends, HMSO, London.Google Scholar
Centre d'Etudes des Revenus et des Couts (1981), ‘A votre avis … combien gagne …’ in 2e Rapport sur les Revenus des Francais, Albatros, Paris, 13–25.Google Scholar
Chaunu, P., Dumont, G.F., Legrand, J. et Sauvy, A. (1979), La France ridée Echapper a la logique du declin, Pluriel, Paris.Google Scholar
Clarke, R.L. and Spengler, J.J. (1980), Economics of individual and population ageing, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Commission of the European Communities (1977), The Perception of Poverty in Europe, CEE, Brussels.Google Scholar
Coote, A. and Hewitt, P. (1980), ‘Stance of Britain's major parties and interest groups’, in Moss, P. and Fonda, N. (eds), Work and the Family, Temple Smith, London, pp. 135–57.Google Scholar
Craven, E., Rimmer, L., Wicks, M. (1982), Family issues and public policy. Study Commission on the Family, London.Google Scholar
Cullen, J. and O'Kelly, R. (1985), ‘Cost of pensions and the myth of funding’ in Silburn, R. (ed.), The Future of Social Security, Fabian Society, London, pp. 45–52.Google Scholar
Debonneuil, M. (1978). ‘Les familles pauvres d'une ville moyenne’, Economie et Statistique, 105, INSEE, Paris.Google Scholar
Sandre, P. De (1976), ‘The influence of government’ in Grebenick, E. (ed.). Population Decline in Europe, Edward Arnold, London, pp. 147–70.Google Scholar
Duchen, C. (1986), Feminism in France, Routledge and Kegan Paul, Henley.Google Scholar
Duclaud-Williams, R.H. (1978), Politics of Housing in Britain and France, Heinemann, London.Google Scholar
Ekert, O. (1982), ‘Durée de Scholarisation et prestations familiales’, Population, 3, INED, Paris, 543–72.Google Scholar
Ekert, O. (1982), ‘Emplacement des naissances et taux de natalité’, Population, 1, INED, Paris, 178–85.Google Scholar
Ekert, O. (1983), ‘Activité féminine, prestations familiales et redistribution’. Population. 3, INED, Paris, 508–26.Google Scholar
Ermisch, J. (1983), The Political Economy of Demographic Change, Policy Studies Institute, London.Google Scholar
Festy, P. (1984). ‘Effects et répercussion de la première guerre mondiale sur la fécondite francaise’, Population, No. 6, INED, Paris, 977–1010.Google Scholar
Field, F. (1977), ‘Lobby for all children’, New Society. 29 09, 647–9.Google Scholar
Fournier, J. et Questiaux, N. (1984), Traité du social, 3e edition, Dalloz, Paris.Google Scholar
Girard, A. et Roussel, L. (1981), ‘Dimension idéale de la famille, fecondité et politique démographique’, Population. 6, INED, Paris, 1005–34.Google Scholar
Higgins, J. (1981), States of Welfare, Blackwell, Oxford.Google Scholar
Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (1984), Données Sociales, INSEE, Paris.Google Scholar
Jowell, R. and Airey, C. (1984), British Social Attitudes, the 1984 Report, Gower, London.Google Scholar
Kaldor, N. (1966), Cause of the slow rate of growth of the united Kingdom, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Kamerman, S.B. and Kahn, A.J. (1978), Family Policy, Government and Families in 14 Countries, Columbia University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Kerr, C., Dunlop, J.T., Harbison, F. and Myers, C.A. (1960), Industrialism and Industrial Man, Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Kessler, D. and Masson, A. (1985), ‘What are the distributional consequences of the Socialist Government Policy in France?’, Journal of Social Policy, 14, 3, 403–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Land, H. (1975), ‘The introduction of family allowances: an act of historic justice?’, in Hall, P., Land, H., Parker, R. and Webb, A.J., Change Choice and Conflict in Social Policy, Heinemann, London, pp. 157–230.Google Scholar
Land, H. (1978), ‘Who cares for the family’, Journal of Social Policy, 7:3, 257–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lattès, G. (1981), ‘L’effet troisième enfant’. Economie et Statistique. INSEE, Paris.Google Scholar
Lefebvre, A. and Sauvy, A. (1981), ‘Influence de l'évolution démographique sur les charges sociales’, Population, 2, INED, Paris, 251–66.Google Scholar
Madge, C. and Willmott, P. (1981), Inner City Poverty in Paris and London, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.Google Scholar
Mitton, R. and Willmott, P. (1983), Unemployment, Poverty and Social Policy in Europe, Occasional Paper in Social Administration, No. 71. Bedford Square Press, London.Google Scholar
Monde, Le/SOFRES (1985), ‘Les Francais disent Oui … mais a la procréation artificielle’, Le Monde, Paris, 23 07.Google Scholar
Political and Economic Planning (1948), Population Policy in Great Britain, PEP, London.Google Scholar
Questiaux, N. et Fournier, J. (1978), ‘France’ in Kamerman and Kahn (1978), 167–882.Google Scholar
The Reform of Social Security (1985), Cmnd. 9517, HMSO, London.Google Scholar
Rodgers, B. (1975), ‘Family Policy in France’, Journal of Social Policy, 4:2, 113–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sauvy, A. (1969), General Theory of Population, Weidenfeld and Nicholson, London.Google Scholar
Sawyer, M. (1976), Income Distribution in OECD Countries, OECD, Paris.Google Scholar
Shaw, R.P. (1976), ‘Government perceptions of population growth’, Population Studies, 30:1, 77–86.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Simons, J. (1976), ‘Great Britain’ in Berelsen, B. (ed.) Population Policy in Developed Countries, McGraw Hill, New York, 592–646.Google Scholar
Simon, J.L. (1983), ‘The present value of population growth in the Western World’, Population Studies, 37:1, 5–21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sinfield, A. (1980), ‘Poverty and Inequality in France’ in George, V. and Lawson, R. (eds), Poverty and Inequality in Common Market Countries, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, 92–123.Google Scholar
Stycos, J.M. and Weller, R.H. (1967), ‘Female working roles and fertility’, Demography, 1, 210–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tabard, N. (1979), Conditions de vie des familles, besoins et aspirations des familles et des jeunes, UNCAF, Paris.Google Scholar
Taylor-Gooby, P. (1985), Public Opinion, Ideology and State Welfare, Routledge and Kegan Paul, Henley.Google Scholar
Veatch, R.M. (ed.) (1977), Population Policy and Ethics, John Wiley, New York, 1977.Google Scholar
Walsh, A. and Lister, R. (1985), Mother's Life-Line, CPAG, London.Google Scholar
Woolf, M. (1971), Family Intentions, HMSO, London.Google Scholar
Wrigley, E.A. (1969), Population and History, World University Library.Google Scholar