Since the mid-2000s Germany has also increased considerably investment in ECEC services, to the benefit of children and their parents (OECD, 2011). Nevertheless, capacity rather than affordability appears to be an issue. Out-of-pocket centre-based child care costs for German parents are similar to those for Danish and Sw'edish parents (Chapter 3), but - despite a marked increase in recent years - ECEC participation rates are still below' the OECD average (Figure 1.7).