Watch tonight: “Nurseries, raid on babies” on Arte, investigation into a cash machine

ARTE – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 AT 9 PM – DOCUMENTARY

The initial project was generous: "Eliminate obstacles to women's participation in the labor market." In 2002, the member states of the European Union decided to give themselves less than ten years to open childcare facilities to accommodate "at least 90% of children aged 3 to 6 and 33% of those under 3." But the shortage of public and non-profit daycare centers was such that governments quickly turned to the private sector. Young entrepreneurs rushed into the breach, sensing an El Dorado that would be very generously financed by public subsidies. "At the beginning, there was a gold-digger atmosphere. It was clear that investment had to be made very quickly," analyzes Birgit Riedel, research director at the German Youth Institute in Munich.

In France, four players will quickly share the market: Grandir-Les Petits Chaperons rouges, Babilou, People & Baby, and La Maison bleue. These companies will ride this liberal wave well beyond France.

You have 74.79% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.