RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Portegijs, Wil A1 de Boer, Alice A1 Merens, AnsYR 2015 T1 Mij een zorg!? JF Tijdschrift voor Arbeidsvraagstukken, VO 31 IS 4 OP DO https://doi.org/10.5117/2015.031.004.495 PB Amsterdam University Press, SN 2468-9424, AB Who cares? A comparison of care ideals of government and citizens Who cares? A comparison of care ideals of government and citizens In the public debate on participation there is much focus on the reconciliation of work and care for vulnerable groups. In this article we analyze the ideals of the government on care for children and the elderly and how these policies are related to the care ideals of citizens.Successive governments have considered professional child care as an important labor market instrument, needed to enable young parents to continue participating in the labor market. In policy documents on care for elderly there is also a focus on ‘participation’ but this refers to social participation. The professional elder care is inhibited as much as possible by encouraging informal care by family. These principles of policy do not correspond to the preferences of citizens. Most citizens find that care for ill parents is mainly a task for the government, but parents are somewhat reluctant to use formal child care.In the public debate on participation there is much focus on the reconciliation of work and care for vulnerable groups. In this article we analyze the ideals of the government on care for children and the elderly and how these policies are related to the care ideals of citizens.Successive governments have considered professional child care as an important labor market instrument, needed to enable young parents to continue participating in the labor market. In policy documents on care for elderly there is also a focus on ‘participation’ but this refers to social participation. The professional elder care is inhibited as much as possible by encouraging informal care by family. These principles of policy do not correspond to the preferences of citizens. Most citizens find that care for ill parents is mainly a task for the government, but parents are somewhat reluctant to use formal child care., UL https://www.aup-online.com/content/journals/10.5117/2015.031.004.495