Objective "Women’s difficulties in reconciling their work and family responsibilities stand in the heart of current demographic explanations concerning low fertility levels and low labour force participation levels of women in western developed countries. Despite the growing involvement of men, women are still doing the lion's share of housework across the board. The current research suggests focusing on policy which was almost overlooked by current family-policy research. Such policy, whether deliberately or not, might reduce women's role incompatibility by providing incentives to households, to outsource housework. Why is it important that households will outsource housework? Should governments act to replace unpaid domestic production with market, state-subsidized or state-provided substitutes? Drawing upon policy research, as well as on demographic and sociological research, this multidisciplinary project aims at analyzing the role of the state in encouraging the outsourcing of housework by households, and the incentives of governments to embrace such policies. These research interests will be met in few stages, using both quantitative and qualitative methods: A broad review and compilation of policies that support or encourage the outsourcing of housework in different countries, over time; a content analysis and a typology of relevant policies; and the compilation of an original longitudinal database of countries, and the characteristics of their housework policies. This country-level information can then be used in large-N regression analyses to analyse the housework policies and their consequences for female employment and fertility. On the whole, this project is likely the first effort to provide a broad overview of policy tools used by different countries to encourage the outsourcing of housework by households. In doing so, this project aims to contribute to cutting-edge research on welfare states policy by suggesting a new framework of ""housework regimes""." Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabasessocial sciencessociologydemographyfertilitysocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementemployment Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG - Marie-Curie Action: "Career Integration Grants" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG) Coordinator THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM Address Edmond j safra campus givat ram 91904 Jerusalem Israel See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments projects.administrative_contact Ben-Yehuda Hani (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 100 000,00
