INDIVIDUALITY AND COMMUNITY - THE CONTRASTING ROLE OF THE STATE IN FAMILY-LIFE IN THE UNITED-STATES AND SWEDEN

Underlying moral values of individuality versus community and assumpti ons about what is a ''just society'' make public policies toward child ren vastly different in Sweden and the United States. This article exp lores the origins, cost, and benefits of welfare policies that permit child poverty in the U.S. as a cost of the high value of autonomy/indi viduality, and policies that prevent child poverty in Sweden, at the c ost of economic competitiveness and individual initiative. I conclude that both extremes of moral values have more social costs than benefit s but that children should be protected in any nation as the future of the society.