Liss Schanke Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities Liss.Schanke@ks.no

1. Equal opportunities and work life balancein an economicperspective: direct and indirecteffects Liss Schanke Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities Liss.Schanke@ks.no

2. WORK LIFE BALANCE PROJECTS • Projects in Spain and Portugal • Very different projects: • National, political and economicsituations • projectfocus and levels • project partners and promoters • Project activities • Broad bilateral input, municipalities, enterprises, trade unions, reseachers, NGOs • Challenges: • Bilateral cooperation and mutual learning – not easy • Simple terminology: gender? Mainstrreaming? • Focusingon specificactions and concreteresults

3. Different elements and approaches • National economic mechanisms and legislation,- e.g. regarding parental leave • Local services for children and elderly, public, private, voluntary – e.g. kindergartens • Labour policies, including working hours, pay gap, management styles, delegation, recruitment – e.g. through social dialogue • Integration of men and the male perspective – by women and men

4. DIRECT ECONOMIC ASPECTS • Equal opportunities and work life balancecan be studied and justified from manyperspectives: human rights, democracy, sociology, quality • This presentation is focusing on theeconomicperspectives - directeconomiceffects and indirecteconomiceffects

5. Effect on birth rate and demographicbalance • WLB makes it easier for couples to have children • The sustainblebirth rate is 2.1. The rates in Europe vary between 1.3 and 2.2. • Lowbirth rates meansfutureeconomic problems: few adults to support theelderly

6. Effect on employment • WLB impliesnew jobs, e.g. kindergartens and institutions, public sector management • New jobs implyhigheremployment rate and a flexiblelabour market • Thereis a positive link betweenwomen’semployment rate and Gross National Product

7. Effect on taxes and consumption Taxes • 2 salaries families generallyearn more than 1 salary families -and pay more taxes • Taxesarethe basis for all public services: schools, hospitals, kindergartens, transport, institutions Consumption • 2 salaries families generallyconsumemore, - especially if they have children • Higherconsume is positive for private sector: restaurants, shops, factories, services

8. INDIRECT ECONOMIC ASPECTS • No easyanswers • Short and long term • Vary betweencountries and cultures • Different national context, different indirecteconomiceffects • E.g. short and long lunch break…

9. Better private sectorcompanyboards • Mr. A. Gabrielsen, former conservative minister for private sector, initiatedthe 2003 Law on 40% quota in reg.privatecompanyboards • Argument: Successof private companies depend on HR quality; theyneed to utilize all human resources • Ex:Womenboardmembers: 2003: 6%, 2009: 40%

10. Better care for theelderly • Numberof persons over 80 doubled by 2035, 40.000 newemployeesneeded • Presently 10% male employees in care for theelderly • Campaign: diversity and quality: more men in care jobs • Pilot projects: men cantry a job in thissector, 8 weekswith full salary

11. Effectsofunemployment • Effects on unemployed adults and youth: motivation, capacity • Effects on children, friends, siblings • Effectsofunemploy-ment on taxes/pensions • Effectsof «unregisteredlabour market» on busi-nesscompetion/quality

12. Effectsofday care • On demographic growth • On parents’ possibility for education/employment • On children’scapacity and motivation for education – especially immigrant or marginalizedchildren • On public and private sectorcompetence in a global competitiveeconomy

13. Effectsofpostponed retirement • Continuedpaymentof income taxes – reducedpaymentofpensions • More activeelderlypeople - happier and healthier • 2012: EU year for theactiveelderly • Foto jobb

14. Effects on productivity • Doesflexibleworkinghours/place give more satisfiedworkers? • Does more satisfiedworkersgiveincreasedproductivity? • Is working 08-16 more productivethan 08-20? • Is presentismproductive? • Best Practice: Flexibility in Bærum

15. Effects on social capital • Many forms of capital, economic, cultural, social • Putnam: «SC is thecollectivevalueof all social networks and theinclinationsthatarise from these n. to do thing for eachother» • More networks with 08-16.00 than 08-20? • 2011: EU voluntaryyear • Best Practice: Voluntarycentre in Mandal

16. Effects on male role • Work life balancemayimply a newrole for men in theirown family • WLB mayopen up new jobs for men in kindergartens, institutions for elderly etc. • More men in care mayimplyhigher total qualityof care • Best Practice: REFORM and Free Choice Vest Agder

17. GENERAL EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC EQUALITY Main message: Society benefits from greater economic equality – not only the poor – but the whole population. Examples: Life expectancy, literacy, infant mortality, homicides, imprisonment, mental illness, drug addiction, trust…………..

18. Income differencesbetweentherichest and poorest 20%

19. Health and Social Problems www.equalitytrust.org.uk • Index of: • Life expectancy • Math & Literacy • Infant mortality • Homicides • Imprisonment • Teenage births • Trust • Obesity • Mental illness – incl. drug & alcohol addiction • Social mobility Source: Wilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level (2009)

20. CONCLUDING REMARKS - Equality between women and men and work life balance that promotes demographic balance and labour participation is a basis for a sustainable economy - A sustainable economy is a basis for equality between women and men