Family Policy in Austria: Impact Analysis of Federal Family Policy Measures

Overview of the publications produced within the framework of this project (in German language)

Family Policy in Austria

The assessment and proof of the achieved effects of political measures are an important substantive basis for the orientation of policy fields and the related decisions on where and how much money is invested. The authors take a look at Austrian family policy and examine the question of the extent to which the policy achieves its defined goals and whether families in their different life situations can be adequately supported with the existing measures.

The book is published with Budrich Verlag (German language): Buchinformation

  • Familienpolitik in Österreich: Wirkungsanalyse familienpolitischer Maßnahmen des Bundes.
    Von: Christiane Rille-Pfeiffer und Olaf Kapella
    Schriftenreihe Nr. 27 | Wien 2017 | 240 Seiten | ISBN: 978-3-86388-751-3

Psychosocial Support Services of Austrian Family Policy

The starting point of this study was to reflect on the psychosocial challenges that people may face in the life cycle or in the family cycle. It was analysed which support services are provided by family policy to meet these challenges. The focus was on the objectives of Austrian family policy, such as strengthening the parenting skills of both parents or supporting children and young people in their development as independent personalities. The study was carried out as a module of the impact analysis of the federal government's family policy services.

Poverty Prevention and Equalisation of Opportunities

This working paper analyses the at-risk-of-poverty rate of Austrian families with children on the basis of three survey waves of the EU-SILC (2011 - 2013). First, the at-risk-of-poverty rates are shown in an EU comparison and then presented according to their concrete composition in Austria. This shows which transfer benefits, such as family allowance or multiple child supplement, significantly reduce the risk of poverty. Finally, five measurement concepts for poverty risk are simulated and their changes due to increases in transfer payments are shown. It is shown that the child-related poverty risk of multi-child families can indeed be reduced well and to a large extent by transfer payments dependent on the number of children.

  • Armutsvermeidung und Chancenangleichung für Kinder aus einkommensschwachen und kinderreichen Familien durch familienbezogene Geldtransfers.
    Von: Norbert Neuwirth, Georg Wernhart
    Working Paper Nr. 85 | 2015 | 55 Seiten
    Download (PDF - German language): Armutsvermeidung und Chancenangleichung | 1,2 MB

Federal Republic and Federal State Programme for the Expansion of Childcare Facilities

In 2008, the federal government and the provinces of Austria jointly decided to expand childcare places for under-threes. This research report examines the implementation of the goals in Austrian cities and municipalities from a political science perspective. For this purpose, case studies were conducted in Eisenstadt, Innsbruck, Pinkafeld, Steyr, Wels and Wörgl with the help of qualitative expert interviews and statistical analyses of the local childcare situation.

  • Bund-Länder-Programm zum Betreuungsausbau. Fallstudien zur Umsetzung in sechs österreichischen Städten. Wirkungsanalyse der familienpolitischen Leistungen des Bundes – Modul 3.
    Von: Sonja Blum, Markus Kaind
    Forschungsbericht Nr. 14 | November 2014 | 103 Seiten
    Download (PDF - German language): Bund-Länder-Programm zum Betreuungsausbau | 2,2 MB

Getting By on Income

n Austria, there are numerous family benefits at federal level, the aim of which is to equalise the burden on families and to provide them with material support. This study deals with the effects of these family-relevant transfers and tax relief on the income situation of families. It examines both the share of family benefits in disposable household income and analyses distributional aspects for different family types using the example of model families and with the help of representative surveys. In addition, estimates are made on the degree of utilisation of individual family policy measures, and the question is examined as to whether the maintenance costs arising from children are sufficiently exempted from taxation.

  • Auskommen mit dem Einkommen. Auswirkungen von familienrelevanten Transfers und Steuererleichterungen auf die Einkommenssituation von Familien in Österreich.
    Von: Georg Wernhart, Michael Kinn
    Working Paper Nr. 84 | 2015 | 62 Seiten
    Download (PDF - German language): Auskommen mit dem Einkommen | 1,6 MB

Parental Leave, Family Allowance & Co - Policy Survey

What is the population's opinion of family policy in Austria? What is the level of information, which services are used, how satisfied are families with state support? The Policy Survey 2013 provides answers to these questions.

From the contents:
 - KNOWLEDGE - What does the Austrian population know about family policy?
 - EVALUATION - How does the Austrian population evaluate family policy?
 - TAKE-UP - Which family policy services are taken advantage of?
 - NEED FOR ACTION - Where is the need for action for family policy seen?
 - In-depth analysis: Knowledge - Utilisation
 - Evaluation

Concept of the Impact Analysis "Family Policy" in Austria

In an international comparison of family policy performance, Austria occupies a top position. At the same time it has become increasingly apparent in recent years that these achievements, measured against various indicators - e.g. in the areas of reconciliation of family and work, birth rate, child poverty - do not lead to the desired results in some cases. In this respect, there is an increasing need to review the effectiveness of family policy instruments and to make the measures more accurate - measured against the agreed family policy goals. Against this background, the Austrian Institute for Family Research (ÖIF) developed a concept for an evaluation of Austrian family benefits at federal level, which is described in this research report.

  • Konzept der Wirkungsanalyse "Familienpolitik" in Österreich. Zieldimensionen - Bewertungskriterien - Module
    Von: Christiane Rille-Pfeiffer, Sonja Blum, Olaf Kapella, Sabine Buchebner-Ferstl
    Forschungsbericht Nr. 12 | März 2014 | 99 Seiten
    Download (PDF - German language): Konzept der Wirkungsanalyse „Familienpolitik“ in Österreich | 2063 KB