Summary
The paper starts by outlining various links between family activities and social security as well
as main arguments for family policy and its design in particular when realised by social
security schemes. In the second part, the situation in Germany is presented as a case study
illustrating major instruments already implemented and topics under discussion for improving
the situation of families by means of social security. It is discussed in particular whether
raising children is like a contribution in kind in social insurance, especially in pension
insurance, and how to reduce the contribution burden of families within social insurance
schemes as an element of a strategy to improve human capital formation.