Family friendly policies in the context of the low fertility country - Poland

Poland enter the low fertility level (below 2,1 TFR) in 1988 (urban 1983, rural 1995). In this context the survey “Late fertility diagnosis – prospective cohort survey: demographic socio-economic and health determinants” was conducted in 2007/2008. Main goal of empirical research is identification of determinants: scale, range of changes in fertility level in Poland to very low fertility level, description of decision process including postponement decisions and demographic, socio-economic and health determinants of those decisions.
One of sections of the questionnaire was dedicated to evaluation of actual family Policy, forms of support to families, maternity and parental leaves, forms of taking care of children.
Summing up results of his survey: women as the most important reason of lower fertility level named: housing problems and lack of flexible working hours. Women in Poland living in big cities are not satisfied with actual family policy. Family Policy must be considered as the part of social policy to be effective. Only policies supporting social norms have chances to work well. Last changes in polish family policy go well with changes observed in other European countries. Governments pay more attention to supply families with good conditions for procreation decisions.