Content Analysis of Family Policy Instruments to Promote the Sustainable Development of Families in China from 1989–2019

Qi Yang,Jianyuan Huang

doi:10.3390/su12020693

Abstract

Family policy involves a combination of policies enacted to address various family problems and improve the sustainable development of families. Evaluating family policy by considering policy instruments is conducive to optimizing policy allocation and promoting this sustainable development. This study constructs a two-dimensional analysis framework of policy instruments and policy themes and employs content analysis to conduct a quantitative analysis of 112 family policy texts issued by the Chinese government. The results show that the policy instruments used in China are not effective. The study also shows that environmental policy instruments are most frequently used, but the internal structure is unbalanced; supply-side policy instruments are moderately used; and the use of demand-side policy instruments is obviously limited. Policy themes focus excessively on “safeguard measures” and pay less attention to “parental welfare and protection”. Overall, China’s family policy is still in its infancy, as it focuses mainly on assistance and remains incomplete. Therefore, the parties responsible for the formulation of family policy should adjust and optimize the combinations of policy instruments that are employed are required to consider “general welfare”, and promote the two-dimensional integration of policy instruments and policy themes.

Highlights

Regardless of the type of political system, the level of economic development, or religious beliefs of a country, family is emphasized as being important for existence and is an institution that supports people’s life development [1]
The aim of this study is to reveal the shortcomings of China’s family policy in terms of the choice and allocation of policy instruments, identify the positive policy implications of reforming family policy in China, and detail China’s experience to help developing countries in similar situations
To systematically describe the Chinese government’s efforts to support the family, this paper proposes a new analytical framework for analyzing the promulgation of China’s family policy that considers the content of the policy text and aims to capture policy characteristics at different levels by using a large number of broad indicators

Summary

Introduction

Regardless of the type of political system, the level of economic development, or religious beliefs of a country, family is emphasized as being important for existence and is an institution that supports people’s life development [1]. A strong individualization trend [5], together with the increasing instability and economic vulnerability of families [6,7], has led to new divisions between individuals and families. Social policy has had to respond to these new social risks, by considering valuing and supporting the family as a social institution [5]. Since the mid-1990s, families and family-related policies have gained increased public attention in Western welfare states [8]

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Conclusion