1. Intergenerational Contributions to Childcare: Potential Policy Responses Alison Smith alison.j.smith@ed.ac.uk University of Edinburgh

2. Grandparental Care “spending some time with the grandchildren” Acting as a primary carer whilst the parent goes to work –Living locally? –Commuting to care? Acting as primary carer in the event of parental failure

3. Theoretical Context Time use and social justice Inequality and the life course

4. Data GUS - Growing up in Scotland MCS - Millenium Cohort Study ELSA - English Longitudinal Study of Ageing SHARE - Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe ECHP For further work potentially also: –Time use data - Fusing evidence from time diary studies to evidence from panel studies –ELFE (Growing Up in France) –UK and Scottish Longitudinal Studies - extending current care questions?

5. Do you look after grandchildren? (SHARE) CountryNYes (%)No (%)DK/Ref (%) Total Austria1,15042.0957.910.00100 Germany1,70645.2554.690.06100 Sweden2,06750.5149.250.24100 Netherlands1,73261.0938.800.12100 Spain1,44740.3659.640.00100 Italy1,36741.4858.520.00100 France1,83650.1149.670.21100 Denmark1,09454.6645.250.09100 Greece1,32445.5454.380.08100 Switzerland48839.7560.250.00100 Belgium2,43055.6844.200.12100 Israel1,87943.6956.250.05100

6. Primary Childcare Provider at 10 months GUS: Sweep 1 Birth Cohort (weighted) Type of providerNPercent Not using childcare2,11140.46 Grandparents1,79934.48 Private creche or nursery57110.94 Childminder2795.35 Another relative1663.18 A friend or neighbour641.22 My ex-spouse or partner300.58 Local authority playgroup or pre-school180.35 Daily nanny who came to our house160.31 Workplace creche or nursery150.28 Private playgroup or pre-school120.23 The child’s older brother or sister100.20 Family centre70.14 Community/voluntary playgroup70.13 Babysitter who came to our house40.07 Live-in nanny40.07 Child-carer via agency30.05 Nursery class attached to school10.02 Other5,217100

7. How much time per week? (GUS sweep 1) On average those babies cared by their grandparents were cared for by them for 16 hours per week (S.D. 13 hours) On average those toddlers cared by their grandparents were cared for by them for 17 hours per week (S.D. 12 hours)

9. Grandparental Leave Child care leave from the labour market so that grandparents can participate in informal care for their grandchildren. Building on the model of parental leave

10. Pensions Credits Pensions reforms: national insurance contributions –For stay-at-home parents –For carers of disabled persons –For grandparents who provide care? –For pensioners looking to top up their pension?

11. Should there be grandparental leave? YES! Grandparents are the ideal informal carers People should continue to work until their health prevents this Grandparental leave will help to retain valued staff Pensions credits should recognise contribution of informal carers

12. Should there be grandparental leave? NO! Informal grandparental care is evidence of a dearth of affordable, high quality childcare provision and of minimal paternal participation in childcare Grandparents should not be primary carers: they’ve already had their turn! Undermining retirement