Family policies in many countries have become crucial in recent years. Behind this
growing interest is the awareness of the challenges such as aging of the population,
falling birth rates, diversification of family forms, or the needs for work-family life
balance, effects of which are felt today and will intensify in the future. The solutions
produced by the welfare regimes in response to the demographic, economic and
political challenges differ according to their institutional traditions. The changes in
family structure in all aspects with the increasing level of prosperity and changing
social conditions after 2000’s are the basic question and problem areas in Turkey.
With this study, family policies were realized in welfare regimes, the factors taken
into consideration during this process and the results of the practices were
examined. In order to obtain concrete data on the primary program of family
policies, supporting policies including leave policies, childcare services, and cash and
tax benefits were examined along with legal regulations on the position of the
family. In this study, family policies in Turkey evaluated together with other
countries in the context of welfare regimes. Considering similar, distinctive and
inadequate aspects compared to other welfare states, Turkey’s current situation
analyzed. As a conclusion, despite all the improvements, the services provided in
Turkey seems quite insufficient, especially compared with Southern European and
Conservative welfare regimes which Turkey resembles with respect to the
importance given to family, and with Liberal regimes which are market-driven when
it comes to leaves, childcare services, and expenditures.Abstract ....................................................................................................................... iv
Öz ................................................................................................................................. v
Acknowledgment ......................................................................................................... v
Table of Contents ...................................................................................................... viii
List of Tables ................................................................................................................. x
List of Abbreviations. ...................................................................................................xi
CHAPTERS
1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1
2. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF WELFARE REGIMES AND CLASSIFICATIONS....... ... 6
2.1. Concepts of Welfare and Welfare Regime ........................................................ 6
2.2. Classification of Welfare Regimes ................................................................... 12
2.2.1. Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism: Esping- Andersen’s Classification of
Welfare Regimes ................................................................................................ 15
2.2.2.1. Liberal Welfare Model .......................................................................... 17
2.2.1.2. Conservative/Corporatist Welfare Regime ........................................... 18
2.2.1.3. Social Democratic Welfare Regime ....................................................... 19
2.2.2. Other Welfare Types .................................................................................... 23
2.2.2.1. Southern European Welfare Regime .................................................... 23
2.2.2.2. Eastern European Welfare Regime ....................................................... 24
2.2.2.3. East Asian Welfare Regime ................................................................... 25
2.2.2.4. Radical Regime ...................................................................................... 26
2.2.2.5. Gender and Family Based Welfare Types ............................................. 27
2.3. Turkey as a part of Southern Europe Welfare Regime ................................... 31
3. FAMILY POLICIES IN THE CONTEXT OF WELFARE REGIMES ................................... 36
3.1. The Content of Family Policies ........................................................................ 36
3.2.1. Liberal Welfare Regime Implementations ............................................... 45
3.2.2. Conservative/Corporatist Welfare Regime Implementations ................. 47
3.2.3. Social Democratic Welfare Regime Implementations ............................. 49
3.2.4. Southern Europe Welfare Regime Implementations............................... 51
3.3. Family Policy Trends in the Welfare States ..................................................... 52
3.3.1. Leave Policies ........................................................................................... 54
3.3.2. Childcare Services .................................................................................... 58
3.3.3. Cash and Tax Benefits .............................................................................. 63
3.3. Family Policy Trends in Welfare States ........................................................... 65
4. FAMILY POLICIES IN TURKEY................................................................................. 67
4.1. The Historical Evaluation of Family Policies in Turkey .................................... 67
4.2. Legal Framework and Regulatory Settings ..................................................... 73
4.2.1. Family Law ................................................................................................ 74
4.2.2. Children’s Rights ....................................................................................... 77
4.2.3. Flexible Working ....................................................................................... 78
4.3. Contemporary Family Policies in Turkey in the Context of Welfare Regimes 82
4.3.1. Leave Policies ........................................................................................... 82
4.3.2. Childcare Services .................................................................................... 87
4.3.3. Cash and Tax Benefits .............................................................................. 93
4.3.4. Other Family Support Programs .............................................................. 95
5. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................ 100
REFERENCES.............................................................................................................11
