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The labor force effects of unplanned childbearing

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  • Nuevo-Chiquero, Ana

Abstract

This paper explores the impact of unplanned births on female labor force participation and income. I estimate the causal effect of birth analyzing a sample of unplanned pregnancies, defined as those that happened while the woman was using contraception. Women with high labor force attachment may be more likely to use contraception or to have an induced abortion if contraception fails. I use spontaneous fetal losses as a source of exogenous variation in births. Unplanned births significantly reduce labor force participation, especially at the beginning of the sample period (1973–2004) and when the child is below 6years of age. This effect is remarkably higher than the estimates traditionally reported in the literature, suggesting that family planning plays a key role in the limited magnitude of previous estimates. The negative impact decreases over the sample period. There are no significant differences in the effect of an unplanned birth by level of education and its impact on income is small.

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  • Nuevo-Chiquero, Ana, 2014. "The labor force effects of unplanned childbearing," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 91-101.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:29:y:2014:i:c:p:91-101
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2014.07.006
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    1. Hande Inanc & Ariella Spitzer & Brian Goesling, "undated". "Assessing the Benefits of the Success Sequence for Economic Self-Sufficiency and Family Stability," Mathematica Policy Research Reports c812f6cb5ece40df8265d7eaa, Mathematica Policy Research.
    2. Shichao Du, 2023. "Childbearing Risk, Job Sectors, and the Motherhood Wage Penalty," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(2), pages 1-19, April.

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