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Parental leave reform and long-run earnings of mothers

Author

Listed:
  • Frodermann, Corinna

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany)

  • Wrohlich, Katharina

    (DIW Berlin)

  • Zucco, Aline

    (DIW Berlin)

Abstract

"Paid parental leave schemes have been shown to increase women's employment rates but decrease their wages in case of extended leave durations. In view of these potential trade-offs many countries are discussing the optimal design of parental leave policies. We analyze the impact of a major parental leave reform on mothers' long-term earnings. The 2007 German parental leave reform replaced a means-tested benefit with a more generous earnings related benefit that is granted for a shorter period of time. Additionally, a 'daddy quota' of two months was introduced. To identify the causal effects of this policy on long-run earnings of mothers, we use a difference-in-difference approach that compares labor market outcomes of mothers who gave birth just before and right after the reform and nets out season effects by including the year before. Using administrative social security data, we confirm previous findings and show that the average duration of employment interruptions increased for high income mothers. Nevertheless, we find a positive long-run effect on earnings for mothers in this group. This effect cannot be explained by changes in working hours, observed characteristics, changes in employer stability or fertility patterns. Descriptive evidence suggests that the stronger involvement of fathers, incentivized by the 'daddy months', could have facilitated mothers' re-entry into the labor market and thereby increased earnings. For mothers with low prior-to-birth earnings, however, we do not find any beneficial labor market effects of this parental leave reform." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Suggested Citation

  • Frodermann, Corinna & Wrohlich, Katharina & Zucco, Aline, 2020. "Parental leave reform and long-run earnings of mothers," IAB-Discussion Paper 202009, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    • Handle: RePEc:iab:iabdpa:202009
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    1. Sevrin Waights, 2022. "Parental Leave Benefits and Child Penalties," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 2016, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    2. Huebener, Mathias & Jessen, Jonas & Kühnle, Daniel & Oberfichtner, Michael, 2021. "A Firm-Side Perspective on Parental Leave," IZA Discussion Papers 14478, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bundesrepublik Deutschland ; Auswirkungen ; Berufsverlauf ; Elterngeld ; Elternzeit ; Einkommenseffekte ; Erwerbsbeteiligung ; Integrierte Erwerbsbiografien ; Lohnhöhe ; Mütter ; Reformpolitik ; 2005-2007;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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