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• Social capital in Sweden and Hungary: Comparative analysis along the dimensions of trust, values and interpersonal relationships

  5-28

  Ákos Bodor

  Zoltán Grünhut

  Views:

  191

  This paper examines and compares the Swedish and Hungarian society along three dimensions: interpersonal (generalized) trust, interpersonal relationships, and values of cooperation. These are all crucial components of social capital, could be seen as its most relevant domains, which, in a macro perspective, express the cohesion and integration of a given society. Thus, the above-mentioned indicators provide deep insight into the social fabrics and dynamics of Sweden and Hungary, as well as the potential changes. The empirical analysis is based on data obtained from waves 1–10 of the European Social Survey (ESS). The relevance of the analysis is due to the specific representation of Sweden in the Hungarian political discourse and in some parts of the media. According to this framing integration and cohesion of the Swedish society is in an increasingly poor state, whereas in Hungary things are going much better. Our paper aims to shed light on this issue along the dimensions presented above. Our results show that, in terms of the dimensions of social capital examined, Swedish society is not in a bad state at all, and in fact presents a significantly more favourable picture than Hungarian society on the basis of the same indicators.

• Analysis of Fertility Trends in Hungary and Sweden

  52-89

  Adrienn Glázer-Kniesz

  Views:

  26

  The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of fertility trends in Hungary and Sweden by examining demographic indicators (1980–2022) and the temporal evolution of structural factors. The first part of the study analyzes changes in fertility patterns based on demographic indicators. This is followed by an empirical investigation relying on trend analysis of time series data from 1995 to 2022, using international statistical databases. The trend analysis focuses on the temporal development of total fertility rates (TFR), as well as female employment rates, educational attainment, gender wage gaps, and the share of family benefits relative to GDP. The findings indicate that fertility trends often coincided with economic, social, and institutional changes. In Hungary, the TFR began to rise following its 2011 low point, while in Sweden fertility has remained relatively stable, supported by the expansion of in-kind family benefits and high female employment rates, which facilitate the reconciliation of childbearing and participation in the labour market. The analysis highlights that the impact of family policy measures is strongly conditioned by the broader structural environment.