Policy developments in Germany and Italy: from a shared focus on the male-breadwinner model to diverging paths after the 1990s

The previous chapter outlined the variety of work-family policies in Europe and the changes during the last two decades. This chapter will go further into detail and compare the legal regulations regarding work-family reconciliation across time in Germany and Italy. Describing the relevant historical developments in the first part of the chapter serves for a better understanding of the starting situation in 1990 and the subsequent (non)changes.