Project 3.1

This PhD project explores how and why various forms of care arrangements have interacted and changed over time in the Netherlands during the long 20th century. Care institutions—whether informal or (semi-)formal—do not evolve in isolation; they continuously influence one another. Yet little knowledge exists about how these institutions have co-evolved. Have they changed in complementary or divergent ways over time, and if so, why? These dynamic interactions will be analysed within the broader historical trajectories of changing norms, political ideologies, economic conditions and demographic trends as potential explanations for this change, integrating insights from history and sociology.

This PhD project explores how various forms of care arrangements have interacted and changed over time in the Netherlands during the long 20th century and studies the reasons behind these developments. It adopts an institutional lens that emphasizes the dynamic relationships among families, for example the gendered division of care within households, local communities, organizations and the state in the provision of care. Care institutions – whether informal or (semi-) formal – do not evolve in isolation; rather, they continuously influence one another. Yet relatively little is known about how these institutions have co-evolved – that is, whether they have changed in complementary or divergent ways over time, and if so, why. This project therefore examines the dynamic interactions among care institutions within the broader historical trajectories of changing norms (e.g., gender norms on care and work), political ideologies (concerning government responsibility for care provision), economic conditions (such as privatization, costs of care) and demographic trends as potential explanations of this change.

The project integrates insights from history and sociology by engaging with institutional theories from both disciplines, including institutional sociology, historical institutionalism and new institutional economics.

The PhD project will use a mixed-methods approach. Using IPUMS International microdata and historical Dutch census data, it will analyse changes in the family, focusing on changes in families’ role as a care provider, such as multigenerational living arrangements or women’s work. At the mesolevel, it will rely on the archives of local care organizations. At the macrolevel, the project will draw on data from sources such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and secondary sources to provide information on market-based solutions and state-level programmes (e.g., social spending) as well as broader contextual changes (e.g., economic growth, demographic changes).

The project will conduct a cohort analysis of surveys (e.g., European Values Survey), parliamentary notes and newsletter archives to study the co-evolution of ideologies and norms around solidarity and responsibility for care among family members, market-based solutions, the state and non-family networks, which are essential for understanding the evolution of organizations around care and vice versa.