Abstract
The aim of the paper is to identify discourses related to the pro-natalist goal of the “Family 500 plus” programme, which is the largest family cash benefit scheme ever introduced in Poland. The paper presents an analysis of the conventional discourse based on Internet forums devoted to this programme. The analysis of 47 forums and over 3,000 posts shared between November 2015 and June 2019 allowed the author to distinguish fourteen dominant conventional discourses which were classified into three groups labelled as follows: (1) discourses of the state’s/individuals’ responsibility (2) discourses concerning policy making (3) discourses of (in)efficiency and (in)effectiveness. The research also indicates the leading role of the social perception of parents-beneficiaries in the debate on the “Family 500+” programme. The key to gaining social support, and, more broadly, for the legitimation of the welfare state in Poland, seems to care for a positive image of parents eligible for the benefit. The paper reveals complexity and interdependence of arguments concerning chances of the programme in terms of supporting increases in fertility in Poland. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first attempt to analyse online forums in terms of social policy instruments.
Highlights
In terms of supporting increases in fertility in Poland
If the family income was under PLN 800 per family member, and under PLN 1,200 per family member in the case of families with disabled children, they received it for the first child
The aim of this paper is to present conventional discourses on “Family 500+” as a form of social investment to boost the number of births in Poland
Summary
In terms of supporting increases in fertility in Poland. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first attempt to analyse online forums in terms of social policy instruments. According to Statistics Poland (2020), the average monthly number of children for whom families received a child benefit in the second half of 2019 was 6.07 million children. Increasing the number of births as well as reducing poverty and improving the quality of children’s human capital is one of the main objectives of the programme (Szarfenberg, 2017, 2018). This message dominated in media statements of politicians of the ruling party and legislative documents accompanying introduction of “500+” (Gromada, 2018). “Family 500+” programme as a social investment aimed at increasing the number of births in Poland
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