What do prospective parents know about family welfare incentives? Evidence from Hungary and the United States

Abstract

ABSTRACT Countries facing population decline have increasingly turned to family welfare incentives to encourage higher fertility. Quantitative analyses have revealed mixed evidence that these policies are effective. However, it remains unknown how much individuals know about their countries' family welfare policies. The extent of men’s welfare knowledge in particular remains unexamined. Relying on 26 interviews with prospective parents in Hungary (N = 11) and the US (N = 15), this study examines what knowledge prospective parents have of family welfare policies in two distinct welfare contexts: Hungary, where certain individuals are heavily rewarded for having three or more children, and the US, where individuals do not receive significant financial support for having any number of children. Findings from this study demonstrate how policy knowledge is shaped by the public versus private nature of the welfare state. This study also reveals how policy measures can shape the gendered division of labor years before a child is born – a fruitful area for future research.