Dads, take the family leave, just like in Sweden (NY Times)

Swedish dads are more manly, and in ways American fathers could never imagine. Sweden, home to Saabs, girls with dragon tatoos, gender equality, 80% tax brackets and utopian living, as well as a relatively high suicide rate, also practically mandates that fathers take lots of leave when they have a kid. In fact, when in 1995 they incurred a penalty if they did not take time off, dads started to in droves:

Introducing “daddy leave” in 1995 had an immediate impact. No father was forced to stay home, but the family lost one month of subsidies if he did not. Soon more than eight in 10 men took leave. The addition of a second nontransferable father month in 2002 only marginally increased the number of men taking leave, but it more than doubled the amount of time they take.Clearly, state money proved an incentive — and a strong argument with reluctant bosses. 

I have my domain of responsibilities around the house, but never realized how important it is. While the US is far from a Swedish utopia, every little bit means something. As far as my wife's future earnings are concerned, a month at home would drive her salary upwards:

The daddy months have left their mark. A study published by the Swedish Institute of Labor Market Policy Evaluation in March showed, for instance, that a mother’s future earnings increase on average 7 percent for every month the father takes leave.

What's sad is how much American moms give up when they pull back on their careers. Ooops, gotta go, my wife is stuck making dinner.