Financial Support of Families in the Czech Republic and Slovakia from the European Perspective: More Similar than Different?
Financial Support of Families in the Czech Republic and Slovakia from the European Perspective: More Similar than Different?

Summary/Abstract: Financial Support of Families in the Czech Republic and Slovakia from the European Perspective: More Similar than Different? The paper explores the character and impact of financial pro-family measures in various European countries. A micro-level analysis is applied to examine how much financial benefit is obtained by different types of families using a “Model Family Method”. The set of the countries analysed consists of two states from Central Europe and a number of Western democracies representing each of the welfare state types as defined by Esping-Andersen. A comparison of selected countries draws on an indicator assessing the difference in the value of all child related benefits when contrasted with benefits paid to families with no children. Through Cluster Analysis this paper uses the influential Esping-Andersen welfare state typology at the family income level, and explores the positioning of the two post-communist states within this typology. The key questions addressed are: Do the Czech Republic and Slovakia still employ a similarly focussed and generous financial support system for families? How do these two countries compare to other European states in respect to financial family support? Contrary to researchers who classify all the Central European states into one category of “post-socialist” countries, the author argues that despite their common values and shared history, these two post-communist countries do not constitute – on a level of financial family support – a unique group vis-à-vis states in Western Europe. Sociológia 2009, Vol. 41 (No. 3: 223-246)

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