Back to home pageBelgium (Brussels) BEVOLKING EN GEZIN 1992 - NUMBER 1 93.38.01 - English - Roel M.A. JANSWEIJER, Scientific Council for Government Policy, P.O. Box 20004, 2500 EA The Hague (Netherlands) Working Women and Childcare: The Influence of Norms and Legislation on Female Labour Force Participation) (p. 1-24) Governments take childcare into account by making various facilities available to careers. These could be directly aimed at the presence of children in a household or at the presence of a dependent partner in a household under the assumption that this partner will look after the children. The type of childcare scheme influences female labour force participation. This article examines how the diversity in childcare schemes in various countries could explain the variation in female labour force participation. It also indicates how care schemes could be organized so that the female participation level rises, without affecting the freedom of choice for domestic labour or professional labour. (EUROPE, WOMEN'S STATUS, HOUSEWIVES, FEMALE EMPLOYMENT, CHILD REARING) 93.38.02 - English - Walter VAN DONGEN, CBGS, Markiesstraat 1, Brussels (Belgium) An Integrated Analysis of the Internal and External Division of Labour in the Family (p. 25-54) An integrated analysis of the division of labour in the family is presented. The human labour process, value formation and the internal and external division of labour in the family are analyzed first, within the societal division of labour or market function. This integrated analysis is then translated into an operational approach and is intended as a guide for the 1992 CBGS-research "Family and Labour". Starting from the gradual distinction between the micro and macro level, the most important research tasks and hypotheses are formulated. (LABOUR, FAMILY, DIVISION OF LABOUR) 93.38.03 - English - Dorien MANTING, Anton C. KUIJSTEN and Janneke HELLEMAN, Department of Planning and Demography, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Prinsengracht 130, 1018 VZ Amsterdam (Netherlands) From Youth to Adulthood: Transitions of Female Birth Cohorts in the Netherlands (p. 55-76) The main objective of this contribution is to document the intercohort changes in transition behaviour from adolescence to adulthood for females in the Netherlands. This transition period involves crucial life events such as finishing school, leaving the parental home, entering the labour market and entry into marriage and motherhood. Based on two data sets, the changes in the timing of the processes linked with these transition periods are examined for three female birth cohorts: 1930-39, 1940-49 and 1950-59, making use of survival curves for the transition events. Although the timing of several events, as well as the number of females experiencing these events, changes remarkably across the three birth cohorts, the small proportion of women showing disorder in their life course remains fairly similar for all birth cohorts. (NETHERLANDS, COHORTS, WOMEN, DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION, CHILDHOOD, ADULTS) 93.38.04 - English - Kène HENKENS, NIDI, P.O. Box 11650, 2502 AR The Hague (Netherlands) Married Women on the Labour Market: A Comparative Study of Belgium and the Netherlands (p. 77-99) The author investigates the differences in labour supply of married women in Belgium and the Netherlands and tries to answer the question of how these differences can be explained. From this study, it can be concluded that differences between both countries in participation and in weekly hours worked can be explained by differences in behaviour instead of differences in circumstances (e.g., age, number and age of children). In Belgium, the effect of the presence of young children in the household has a much smaller impact on the labour supply of women than in the Netherlands. The empirical results indicate that Belgian married women are more economically independent than Dutch married women. For a full study of the differences in labour supply of married women in both countries, (more) institutional and cultural factors have to be taken into account. (BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS, FEMALE EMPLOYMENT) 93.38.05 - English - Janneke PLANTENGA, Economic Institute/CIAV, University of Utrecht, Kromme Nieuwegracht 22, 3512 HH Utrecht (Netherlands) Differences and Similarities: The Position of Women on the Dutch Labour Market from a European Perspective (p. 101-120) The article gives a picture of the position of women on the labour market in the Netherlands at the end of the 1980s. To place the data in some kind of context, a "European" context is taken, examining whether the Netherlands, as regards female employment, displays national peculiarities, or whether the pattern is more "European". The comparison shows that the Netherlands has a relatively large number of women working in part-time employment. On the other hand, neither the earning differentials between men and women nor levels of unemployment are greatly different from those anywhere else. The differences must be attributed first and foremost to the structure of the labour market in the Netherlands, which still takes little account of employees' possible caring commitments. (NETHERLANDS, EUROPE, FEMALE EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR MARKET) 93.38.06 - English - Karel VAN DEN BOSCH and Bea CANTILLON, Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp (Belgium) Welfare Comparisons between One-earner and Two-earner Households: An Application of the Income Evaluation Method for Belgium (p. 121-140) Households in which the wife and the husband both have paid work very often find themselves in the upper regions of the income distribution. Yet, it is often argued that a two-earner family with a given income has a lower standard of living than a one-earner family with the same income. This article approaches this issue from several directions. After a short theoretical introduction, studies on differences in the use of time and in expenditure patterns are reviewed. Next, a few studies using the subjective income evaluation approach are discussed. This method is then applied to data from the first two waves of a panel survey of Belgian households. The conclusion is that there is no conclusive evidence that two-earner households need more income to be as well off. (BELGIUM, HOUSEHOLD, HOUSEHOLD INCOME) 93.38.07 - English - Yolanda K.GRIFT and Jacques J.SIEGERS, Economic Institute/CIAV, University of Utrecht, Kromme Nieuwegracht 22, 3512 HH Utrecht (Netherlands) The Effect of the Tax and Social Premium System on the Income Distribution between Dutch Couples (p. 141-168) Different tax and social premium systems affect the income distribution between households in two ways: directly and indirectly. The direct way concerns the effects resulting from the assumption that individual and household labour supply does not change when the tax and social premium system changes (first-order effects). The indirect way concerns the effects that result from the change in labour supply due to the change in the tax and social premium system (second-order effects). Taking only first-order effects into account, which is frequently done in government publications, appears to give a misleading view on the effects of a change in the tax and social premium system on income distribution. Second-order effects can have an impact on female labour supply and modify income inequality among males and females. (NETHERLANDS, TAXATION, MANPOWER, INCOMES POLICY) 93.38.08 - English - Monique RAMIOUL, Flemish Foundation for Technology, Jozef II straat 12-16, 1040 Brussels (Belgium) Two-Speed Flexibility and the Position of Females on the Labour Market in Flanders (p. 169-193) This article deals with the appearance of numerical and contractual flexibility and the consequences for the labour market position of females in Flanders. After a brief analysis of the position of females on the labour market, some explanations are provided for the fact that females are more affected than males by the actual growth of flexible working hours and contracts. One is the high concentration of females in the growing services sector in which flexibility is more intensively realized and forms the basis for rationalization and the increase of productivity. Other factors are structural problems of females on the labour market in general and their low representation in unions. The author tries to prove the "two-speed flexibility" for female workers by means of brief actual statistical analysis. (BELGIUM, MANPOWER, FEMALE EMPLOYMENT) 93.38.09 - English - Walter VAN DONGEN, CBGS, Markiesstraat 1, Brussels (Belgium) A Positive Culture towards Day Nurseries: A Dynamic and Integrated Infrastructure on a Local Scale (p. 195-215) Day nurseries are considered from an integrated analysis of the external and internal division of labour of the family (members) and, more specifically, the development of the child(ren). Given the shortage of day nurseries, in quantity and in quality, the negative pedagogical culture and the static societal organization of day nurseries are indicated as the main problems. As an answer, a dynamic and integrated infrastructure for day nurseries on a local scale is developed and adjusted to the needs of the household, leaving more opportunities for matching supply and demand. (BELGIUM, DAY CARE CENTRES) 93.38.10 - English - Gijs BEETS, NIDI, P.O. Box 11650, 2502 AR The Hague (Netherlands), Kees PRINS, Netherlands Central Bureau of Statistics, Department of Population Statistics, P.O.Box 959, 2270 AZ Voorburg (Netherlands), and Paul WILLEMS, CBGS, Markiesstraat 1, 1000 Brussels (Belgium) Chronicle: Trends in Population and Family in the Low Countries (p. 217-268) This contribution presents an overview of what has actually happened in Belgium and the Netherlands based on vital statistics, censuses and surveys. Double-classified data (according to age or duration, and to year of event) are available for Belgium as of 1954; for the Netherlands, as of 1949. The presentation is, to a large extent, expressed graphically. The final contribution focuses on household, family and labour market trends. (BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS, POPULATION SITUATION, FERTILITY, LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS) 1992 - NUMBER 2 93.38.11 - Dutch - Etienne VAN HECKE, Instituut voor Sociale en Economische Geografie, De Croylaan 42, 3030 Leuven-Heverlee (Belgium) Evolution of Migration in Belgium, 1977- 1990 (De evolutie van de migratietendensen 1977-1990 in de Belgische ruimte) (p. 1-27) The purpose of this article is to examine the evolution of migration tendencies in the period 1977- 1990, for example as a function of the important economic fluctuations in that period, by municipality. The hypothesis formulated (and confirmed) is that migration, especially when viewed in connection with sub-urbanization, declines during a downward economic trend, and vice versa. (BELGIUM, INTERNAL MIGRATION) 93.38.12 - Dutch - Peter EKAMPER, NIDI, Postbus 11650, 2502 AR The Hague (Netherlands) Replacement Demand on the Dutch Labour Market (De vervangingsvraag op de Nederlandse arbeidsmarkt) (p. 29-47) The aim of this article is to gain insight into the scope and structure of replacement demand per occupational group in the Dutch labour force, i.e., the demand which arises from the exit of workers from the working population, plus the demand which is caused by job mobility. The population of working age is distinguished according to sex, age, status in the labour force (employed, unemployed and other) and occupational group. Using these age profiles, a projection of the population of working age is carried out for the years 1990-1995. (NETHERLANDS, MANPOWER, PROJECTIONS) 93.38.13 - Dutch - Lieve VANDERLEYDEN, Centrum voor Bevolkings- en Gezinsstudiën, Markiesstraat 1, 1000 Brussels (Belgium) The Mental Functioning of Older Widows: A Multivariate Analysis (Het mentaal functioneren van oudere weduwen: een multivariate analyse) (p. 49-65) At the present time, very little is known about the living conditions of older widows. In a previous document, the author tried to elucidate the living conditions of this population, taking married women as a reference group. In the present article, using a multivariate analysis, the mental functioning or wellbeing of older widows is brought into focus, based on a number of variables. (BELGIUM, WIDOWS, AGED, AGEING, LIVING CONDITIONS) 93.38.14 - Dutch - Hanna VAN SOLINGE and Ingrid ESVELDT, NIDI, Postbus 11650, 2502 AR The Hague (Netherlands) Household Situation of the Elderly in the Netherlands: Implications for the Demand for Care Facilities (Huishoudenssituatie van ouderen in Nederland: implicatie voor de vraag naar zorgvoorzieningen) (p. 67-91) Special attention is paid to those elderly persons who live with one of their children. Knowledge on the characteristics of these households may be relevant for policy regarding alternatives to existing facilities. But these should also take privacy into account: persons living with their children also value their privacy. (NETHERLANDS, AGED, AGEING, HOUSING) 93.38.15 - Dutch - Lut VANDEN BOER, CBGS, Markiesstraat 1, 1000 Brussels (Belgium) Care of the Elderly in Flanders: Today and Tomorrow (Zorg voor ouderen in Vlaanderen: Nu en Straks) (p. 93-122) Several prospects of the future needs for intra- and extra-mural services for the elderly population are presented on the basis of quantitative scenarios reflecting possible future developments. Furthermore, a so-called "substitution model" was worked out in which potential shifts from institutional to home care / semi-mural care are quantified. According to the different assumptions of the model, more than 40% of the present residents of old people's homes could be nursed outside an institution if the necessary forms of alternative care were developed. (BELGIUM, AGED, AGEING) 1992 - NUMBER 3 93.38.16 - Dutch - Ad VOSSEN, Faculteit Sociale Wetenschappen, KU Brabant, Postbus 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg (Netherlands) Ageing and Increasing Collective Burdens: Population Policy as a Remedy? (Bevolkingsveroudering en stijgende collectieve lasten: bevolkingsbeleid als remedie?) (p. 1-27) In this article, the author first of all proposes an index which relates a simple age-specific public expenditure profile to an age-specific labour force participation profile. This index is calculated for different demographic ageing scenarios representing possible future situations in the Netherlands. Most scenarios show rapidly increasing index values between the second and fourth decade of the 21st century. Next, analyses are carried out in order to investigate whether either demographic policies or labour market policies might reduce the expected costs of an ageing society. It shows that, in this respect, stimulating (female) labour force participation is more promising than any demographic policy. (NETHERLANDS, AGEING, POPULATION POLICY) 93.38.17 - Dutch - Gilbert DOOGHE, CBGS, Markiesstraat 1, 1000 Brussels (Belgium) Informal Provision of Care for the Elderly (Informele Zorgverlening ann bejaarden) (p. 29-49) The article deals with various aspects relating to the informal care for elderly chronically sick people. Is assistance given by different providers of care or by only one central figure? Is there a hierarchy among providers of care? What is the extent of the care provided and how much time is spent on the assistance? The author attempts to reply to these questions on the basis of research results from at home and abroad. The preparation and availability of informal providers of care are also researched and allowance is made for several recent demographic and social developments. Attention is also paid to the many needs and difficulties experienced by providers of care: combination of professional and family obligations, risk of social isolation, the burden on physical and mental health, additional financial burden, etc. The article concludes with some reflections on policy. (AGEING, AGED) 93.38.18 - Dutch - Hans VAN DEN BREKEL and Hein MOORS, NIDI, Postbus 11650, 2502 AR The Hague (Netherlands) Attitudes Towards the Status of the Elderly and Aspects of Ageing (Opvattingen over de positie van ouderen en aspecten van de vergrijzing) (p. 51-76) Attitudes towards the status of the elderly in an ageing Dutch society are contained in the studies on "Opinions and Attitudes on Population Issues" (MOAB), conducted in 1986 and 1990. Attention was paid to a number of aspects which could be considered important for the well-being of persons aged 65 and over: work, care and housing. Also included are attitudes towards possible governmental measures, particularly the State pension. (NETHERLANDS, AGEING, AGED, ATTITUDE, HEALTH, RETIREMENT PENSIONS) 93.38.19 - Dutch - Etienne VAN HECKE, Instituut voor Sociale en Economische Geografie, De Croylaan 42, 3030 Leuven-Heverlee (Belgium) Spatial Analysis of Migration Related to Age (Ruimtelijke analyse van de migraties naar leeftijd) (p. 77-103) In this article, the spatial structure of migration is studied at the level of Belgian municipalities. The connection between the geographical milieu and age-specific migration balances reveals itself clearly from the positive balance for the age group 20-24 years in the cities; from the negative balance for the 25-39 year age group in the weaker economic regions and city centres, and the positive balance for the suburban regions; and, finally, from the positive balance for the group aged over 55 for the coastal region and Wallonia. (BELGIUM, INTERNAL MIGRATION, AGE) 93.38.20 - Dutch - Noortje H.M. MERTENS, Economic Institute/CIAV, University of Utrecht, Kromme Nieuwegracht 22, 3512 HH Utrecht (Netherlands) et al. Married Women's Labour Force Participation during Different Stages of Family Formation. The Netherlands and Flanders (De arbeidsparticipatie van de gehuwde vrouw en de gezinsopbouw: gedragen Nederlandse vrouwen zich anders dan Vlaamse vrouwen?) (p. 105-129) A large majority of women participate in the labour market before the birth of their first child and then drop out. A small share of these women re-enter the labour market, but only after the family formation process is completed and not before the last child is born. Women who never participated in the labour market give birth to more children on average. These observations are as valid for the more recent generations as they were for the older generations. A higher participation rate for highly educated women compared with lower educated women can only be recorded for women with two children and then, only for the period until the birth of the second child. The article compares the situation in the Netherlands with that of Flanders. (NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, FERTILITY, FAMILY FORMATION, FEMALE EMPLOYMENT)
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