Winners and Losers: Unequal Access to Early Childhood Education and Care Resources

Abstract

This article analyses the social bias in the access to both formal and informal care by different household income groups in Spain. Based on data from the Living Conditions Survey (Encuesta de Condiciones de Vida), a statistical model is used to isolate the effect of mothers’ occupation on the use of childcare. The 2006-2016 period is analysed in order to assess the conjunctural effect of the economic crisis of 2008. The results show that access to formal care in Spain is clearly stratified by household income. While this access bias predates the economic crisis, it was exacerbated during the recession years. Informal care is therefore a complementary resource, especially for middle- and lower-class families and in households with part-time employed mothers.