The Care Dilemma

A FINANCIAL TIMES AND THE SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEAR''Important'' Financial Times''Serious and thought-provoking'' The Critic''Brave'' Richard ReevesFamily life has changed dramatically over the past 60 years.Greater choice and autonomy, especially for women, and a more equal domestic spherehave brought great gains for human freedom. However, argues David Goodhart, there have beenlosses and unintended consequencestoo –in familyinstability,children’s declining mental health,and the ever-rising demands onthe welfare state and social care system. Sharply falling birthrates also present majorchallenges.For many people, especially in the bottom half of the income spectrum, the costsare now too high.The Care Dilemmaargues that we need a new policy settlement that supports gender equality while also recognising the importance of stable families and community life, and that sees having children as a public as well as private good.