The evolution of the financial support for family in Romania after the economic crisis

Abstract

The assessment of the policies and programs to support the living standards of families and children is difficult to complete, considering the variety of programs, benefits in cash or in goods and services. This paper aims to analyze the configuration of the family support system and its evolution in the recent years. The analysis covers the financial transfers, due to insufficient data about the system of services and the lack of comparability between them. The research target is to look at the state's support for the widespread family, not for particular categories or specific situations in which family could live. After a general evaluation of the financial effort, I take a closer view on four specific instruments of support: the state allowance for children, the family allowance and the paid parental leave together with incentive for work. The analysis reveals a minimal family protection; all indicators examined showing the same pattern: low level of transfers in a decreasing trend for most aspects.