The Nordic Model of Father Quotas in Leave Policies: A Case of Policy Transfer?

Abstract:This contribution asks whether the most recent innovation of Nordic family policies, the so-called father quota, has been an object of policy learning in countries that followed the Nordic example of leave policies earlier, such as Germany, Slovenia, and Japan. Our case studies show that analyses of policy learning, especially in the social field, need to take into account the specific contexts and actor constellations in "export" and "import" countries. Rather than representing a blueprint, the Nordic father quotas have served as an inspiration within messy and fragmented processes of policy learning leading to hybrid arrangements in import countries.