What does a modern family look like? The Economist’s Matt Steinglass travels to the Netherlands where multiple-parent families–with up to four parents–could be recognised by law.<br /><br />Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.st/2B3k8sA <br /><br />What does a modern family look like? The Netherlands could become the first country in the world to allow a child to have more than two legal parents.<br /><br />Families nowadays are complicated. Gay couples and infertile couples often have children with the help of surrogates or friends. Meaning three or more people may consider themselves the parents.<br /><br />But does growing up in a non-traditional family have any impact on the well-being of children or their parents? <br /><br />In 2013, California passed a law allowing more than two parents in some cases. A few provinces in Canada also allow it, but no country has adopted the practice nationwide.<br /><br />Multiple studies have shown that same-sex parents are just as likely to raise well-adjusted children as heterosexual couples but multi-parent families are a relatively new phenomenon.<br /><br />Researchers at the University of Amsterdam have carried out a long-term study on families with more than two parents. While the Dutch government deliberates over whether to change the law the reality is that multi-parent families exist and are becoming more common.<br /><br />Loving families, able to care for their children, should be legally represented as such, no matter what their shape or size. <br /><br />Daily Watch: mind-stretching short films throughout the working week.<br /><br />For more from Economist Films visit: http://econ.st/2B3k9g8 <br />Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk <br />Like The Economist on Facebook: http://econ.st/2B1mWWV <br />Follow The Economist on Twitter: http://econ.st/2B0KFq8 <br />Follow us on Instagram: http://econ.st/2B0nts1 <br />Follow us on LINE: http://econ.st/1WXkOo6 <br />Follow us on Medium: http://econ.st/2AYlfcL
