Liss Schanke Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities [email protected]
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Transcript of Liss Schanke Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities [email protected]
Equal opportunities and work life balance
in an economic perspective: direct and indirect effects
Liss Schanke Norwegian Association of
Local and Regional Authorities [email protected]
WORK LIFE BALANCE PROJECTS
– Projects in Spain and Portugal– Very different projects:
• National, political and economic situations• project focus and levels• project partners and promoters• Project activities
– Broad bilateral input, municipalities, enterprises, trade unions, reseachers, NGOs
– Challenges: • Bilateral cooperation and mutual learning – not easy• Simple terminology: gender? Mainstrreaming?• Focusing on specific actions and concrete results
Different elements and approaches
• National economic mechanisms and legislation,- e.g. regarding parental leave
• Local services for children and elderly, public, private, voluntary – e.g. kindergartens
• Labour policies, including working hours, pay gap, management styles, delegation, recruitment – e.g. through social dialogue
• Integration of men and the male perspective – by women and men
DIRECT ECONOMIC ASPECTS
• Equal opportunities and work life balance can be studied and justified from many perspectives: human rights, democracy, sociology, quality
• This presentation is focusing on the economic perspectives - direct economic effects and indirect economic effects
Effect on birth rate and demographic balance
• WLB makes it easier for couples to have children
• The sustainble birth rate is 2.1. The rates in Europe vary between 1.3 and 2.2.
• Low birth rates means future economic problems: few adults to support the elderly
Effect on employment
• WLB implies new jobs, e.g. kindergartens and institutions, public sector management
• New jobs imply higher employment rate and a flexible labour market
• There is a positive link between women’s employment rate and Gross National Product
Effect on taxes and consumption
Taxes• 2 salaries families
generally earn more than 1 salary families -and pay more taxes
• Taxes are the basis for all public services: schools, hospitals, kindergartens, transport, institutions
Consumption• 2 salaries families
generally consume more, - especially if they have children
• Higher consume is positive for private sector: restaurants, shops, factories, services
INDIRECT ECONOMIC ASPECTS• No easy answers• Short and long term • Vary between countries
and cultures• Different national
context, different indirect economic effects
• E.g. short and long lunch break…
Better private sector company boards
• Mr. A. Gabrielsen, former conservative minister for private sector, initiated the 2003 Law on 40% quota in reg.private company boards
• Argument: Success of private companies depend on HR quality; they need to utilize all human resources
• Ex:Women board members: 2003: 6%, 2009: 40%
•
Better care for the elderly
• Number of persons over 80 doubled by 2035, 40.000 new employees needed
• Presently 10% male employees in care for the elderly
• Campaign: diversity and quality: more men in care jobs
• Pilot projects: men can try a job in this sector, 8 weeks with full salary
Effects of unemployment
• Effects on unemployed adults and youth: motivation, capacity
• Effects on children, friends, siblings
• Effects of unemploy-ment on taxes/pensions
• Effects of «unregistered labour market» on busi-ness competion/quality
Effects of day care
• On demographic growth• On parents’ possibility for
education/employment• On children’s capacity and
motivation for education – especially immigrant or marginalized children
• On public and private sector competence in a global competitive economy
Effects of postponed retirement
• Continued payment of income taxes – reduced payment of pensions
• More active elderly people - happier and healthier
• 2012: EU year for the active elderly
• Foto jobb
Effects on productivity
• Does flexible working hours/place give more satisfied workers?
• Does more satisfied workers give increased productivity?
• Is working 08-16 more productive than 08-20?
• Is presentism productive?• Best Practice: Flexibility in
Bærum
Effects on social capital • Many forms of capital,
economic, cultural, social• Putnam: «SC is the collective
value of all social networks and the inclinations that arise from these n. to do thing for each other»
• More networks with 08-16.00 than 08-20?
• 2011: EU voluntary year• Best Practice: Voluntary
centre in Mandal
Effects on male role
• Work life balance may imply a new role for men in their own family
• WLB may open up new jobs for men in kindergartens, institutions for elderly etc.
• More men in care may imply higher total quality of care
• Best Practice: REFORM and Free Choice Vest Agder
GENERAL EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC EQUALITY
Main message: Society benefits from greater economic equality – not only the poor – but the whole population. Examples: Life expectancy, literacy, infant mortality, homicides, imprisonment, mental illness, drug addiction, trust…………..
Income differences between the richest and poorest 20%
Index of: • Life expectancy• Math & Literacy • Infant mortality• Homicides• Imprisonment• Teenage births • Trust• Obesity• Mental illness – incl.
drug & alcohol addiction
• Social mobility
Health and Social Problems
Source: Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level (2009) www.equalitytrust.org.uk
CONCLUDING REMARKS
- Equality between women and men and work life balance that promotes demographic balance and labour participation is a basis for a sustainable economy- A sustainable economy is a basis for equality between women and men