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Fertility and Women’s Employment: A Meta-analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Matysiak

    (Warsaw School of Economics)

  • Daniele Vignoli

    (University of Rome “La Sapienza”)

Abstract

Our research objective was to systematise the existing literature on the relation between fertility and women’s employment at the micro-level. Instead of carrying out a traditional literature review, we conducted a meta-analysis. This allowed us to compare estimates from different studies standardised for the country analysed, the method applied, control variables used and sample selected. We focused on two effects: the impact of work on fertility and the impact of young children on employment entry. First, we found a high variation in the studied effects among the institutional settings, reflecting the existence of a north–south gradient. Second, we observed a significant change in the effects over time. Finally, we demonstrated that a failure to account for the respondent’s social background, partner and job characteristics tends to produce a bias in the estimated effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Matysiak & Daniele Vignoli, 2008. "Fertility and Women’s Employment: A Meta-analysis," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 24(4), pages 363-384, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eurpop:v:24:y:2008:i:4:d:10.1007_s10680-007-9146-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10680-007-9146-2
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fertility; Women’s employment; Meta-analysis; Welfare regimes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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