We explore certain aspects of the `gentrification' process in the city of Paris and try to explain the growing fashion among upper-middle-class families for the centre of the capital . Based upon data from a survey and in-depth interviews of couples who had recently moved, we focus on their trade-offs and compromises and identify their residential choices, by comparing various aspects of the lifestyle of those who live in a Paris neighbourhood with the lifestyle of those who live in the near and the more distant suburbs. Living in the centre often means the subordination of housing to the choice of a location which expresses a strong attachment to urban values. Commuting time is also a determinant factor in the choice of housing location .

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The 'Family Law' passed by the French Parliament in July 1994 introduced important changes in family policy. Because the number of publicly subsidised childcare places is still v e y limited, and to encourage families to create employment (6y employing childcare workers), the government has chosen to encourage the development o j a variety of childcare provisions by increasing the financial incentives payable to parents employing a private nanny or child-minder. The same rationale of reducing unemployment has also prompted the decision to extend existing child rearing benefit to jamilies having a second child. This measure has been vey successful in encouraging women to retire from the labour market. The high cost of these changes has been shared by Social Security and the State. However, the changes have contributed to the increased polarisation between higher and lower wages families, with highly qualified mothers, who can afford childcare costs, remaining in paid employment ajer giving birth, and lower qualijied mothers leaving the labour market.KEY WORDS Childcare; family policy; maternal employment; unemployment RI%UM& En France, la loi Famille votie en 1994 a introduit d'importants changements dans la politique familiale. Alors que la nombre de places en criches est encore tris insujfisant, pour encourager les familles a crier des eniplois, le gouvernement a choisi de priviligier le dkveloppement des modes de garde individuels en augmentant les prestations jinanciires accordies aux parents qui emploient soit une assistante maternelle soit une employke a leur domicile pour garder leurs enfants. L a m2me logique-lutter contre le chbmage-a prisidi a la dicision d'itendre l'allocation parentale d'iducation aux familles ayant un deuxiime ergant. Du fait de la digradation du marchi de E'emploi fkminin, cette prestation remporte un grand succis. Ces dispositif, coateux a la fois pour la Securiti sociale et I'Etat, ont renforci l'inigal accis des familles aux dtffirents modes de garde en fonction de leurs revenus et accentui la polarisationrecoupant en partie les clivages sociaux-entre les mires qui poursuivent une carriire et se maintiennent dans l'emploi apris leur materniti et celles qui se retirent durablement du marchi du travail apris une naissance. L 'emprise croissante des politiques de l'emploi sur la politique familiale s'est donc, en partie, traduite par une 'instrumentalisation' de 1'oBe de travail des jemmes.