the chapter first introduces the issues and sets out the main findings before examining policies in oecd countries that foster equal partnership in families and discussing how those policies differ in their approach and tools section looks at how financial incentive structures embodied in taxbenefit systems may encourage both parents to work parental leave is a critical component of policies to reconcile work and family life and the main subject of the next section which considers how reform in germany has changed father s and mother s leave taking behaviour section analyses the implications of a potential family workingtime model such a scheme could foster gender equality involve fathers more in child care and housework and enable mothers to work fulltime or longer parttime hours the next section discusses the provision of early childhood education and care services and outofschoolhours care