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Maternity leave and female labor force participation: evidence from 159 countries

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Rey

    (Universitat de Girona)

  • Andreas Kyriacou

    (Universitat de Girona)

  • José I. Silva

    (Universitat de Girona
    University of Kent)

Abstract

In this paper, we account for the direct and indirect effects of maternity leave entitlements on female labor force participation. We first explore theoretically the impact of maternity leave duration on female labor supply in the presence of fertility decisions. We assume that maternity leave duration affects female labor supply through two main channels: reducing the time cost of female market work, and reducing women’s earnings. Our theoretical model allows for non-monotonic effects of leave duration on female labor supply. We test the predictions of our model using an unbalanced panel of 159 countries for the years 1994, 2004, and 2011. We confirm the existence of an inverted U-shaped relationship between maternity leave duration and female participation, and find a maternity leave threshold of around 30 weeks above which female participation falls. Below this threshold, increasing maternity leave increases female labor force participation because the positive effect due to the reduction of work–time cost of employed mothers strongly dominates the negative wage penalty effect. Beyond this threshold, the opposite happens. Our analysis also confirms the relevance of social norms for female labor supply throughout the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Rey & Andreas Kyriacou & José I. Silva, 2021. "Maternity leave and female labor force participation: evidence from 159 countries," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 34(3), pages 803-824, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:34:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s00148-020-00806-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-020-00806-1
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    2. Henri Bello Fika, 2024. "Gender Gap in the Paid Economic Activity and Economic Growth in the CEMAC Zone," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(7), pages 2329-2349, July.
    3. Estefanía Galván & Cecilia Parada & Martina Querejeta & Soledad Salvador, 2024. "Gender Gaps and Family Leaves in Latin America," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 387-414, June.
    4. Annette Bergemann & Regina T. Riphahn, 2023. "Maternal employment effects of paid parental leave," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(1), pages 139-178, January.
    5. Martina Querejeta Rabosto & Estefanía Galván & Cecilia Parada & Soledad Salvador, 2021. "Gender Gaps and Family Policies in Latin America," Asociación Argentina de Economía Política: Working Papers 4509, Asociación Argentina de Economía Política.
    6. Harris, Jorgen M. & Patacchini, Eleonora, 2024. "Closing the Gender Gap: Promoting Labour Market Participation," IZA Discussion Papers 17219, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Del Rey, Elena & Racionero, Maria & Silva, Jose I., 2024. "Employer vs government parental leave: Labour market effects," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    8. Shen, Yu & Qie, Xueting & Bi, Qingmiao, 2024. "Maternity leave reform and women's labor supply: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    9. Janetta Nestorová Dická & Filip Lipták, 2024. "Regional fertility predictors based on socioeconomic determinants in Slovakia," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 1-43, September.
    10. Gao, Shangyi & Cheong, Chee Seng & Zurbruegg, Ralf, 2024. "Do paid maternity leave mandates affect corporate cash holdings?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    11. Del Rey, Elena & Racionero, Maria & Silva, Jose I., 2021. "Labour market effects of reducing the gender gap in parental leave entitlements," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    12. Alessandra Casarico & Elena Del Rey & Jose I. Silva, 2023. "Child care costs, household liquidity constraints, and gender inequality," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 1461-1487, July.
    13. Regmi, Krishna & Wang, Le, 2022. "Maternity Leave," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1184, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    14. Bates, Lillian & Hall, Oliver & Jakiela, Pamela, 2023. "Understanding the Impacts of Paid Maternity Leave on Women's Labor Market Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 16565, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Female labor force participation; Fertility; Maternity leave; Social norms.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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