LINKS BETWEEN EARLY-CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT IN 3 COUNTRIES

Early childhood programs are usually viewed as a service that promotes children's development. In addition, these programs often serve a bro ader purpose of enabling mothers with young children to join the paid labor force. Therefore, government policies relating to the provision and use of child care programs reflect such economic and social factor s as the demand for women workers in the labor market; expectations of the relationship among government, family, and the private market; an d the value placed on maintaining traditional family structures with a breadwinner, a homemaker, and children. This article examines the evo lution of policies toward maternal employment and child care provision in the United States, Sweden, and the Netherlands - three countries t hat differ sharply in tile extent of government involvement in child a nd family policy, and in the emphasis government leaders place on prom oting or discouraging maternal employment. This analysis shows that ch ild care policy is best viewed as but one element among many that make it more or less likely that mothers of young children will be employe d and will need to rely on early childhood programs to care for their youngsters. The design of tax codes, labor laws, parental leave polici es, and cash assistance programs combines with child care policies to shape women's choices about employment.