In France in 2015, 3% of GDP was spent on family policies, such as family benefits, tax allowances, and services for families such as childcare. More than a third of this expenditure was devoted to family benefits, representing one of the largest budgets in OECD countries (Adema, Clarke and Thévenon, 2020). However, we know very little about the impact of these policies on children, as studies have concentrated on adults (fertility, maternal employment, etc.).
Two reforms, in 2014 and 2015, make it possible to propose a causal framework to estimate the impact of these benefits on children. Using econometric techniques, we will assess the effects on family instability (such as parental divorce and repartnering), certain living conditions (overcrowding), and own educational achievement at entry into adulthood.
