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To be or not to be a (good) mother: Life-long decisions of women in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Debora Di Gioacchino
  • Emanuela Ghignoni
  • Alina Verashchagina

Abstract

More time spent in childcare can be seen as investment in higher quality children, but there may be other reasons why women following childbirth stay out longer or leave the labour market. We aim to understand which are factors that affect this decision. The theoretical model proposed describes trade-offs about career, fertility and time dedicated to children. Model predictions are tested empirically using data from Isfol Plus 2014 survey for Italy. We show that women with higher earnings potential are as prone to have kids as their low-earning counterparts, but the duration of career break due to maternity for them is shorter. Both the probability to become a mother and the duration of career break are positively affected by the "taste for children", defined using the number of actual and desired children. Other factors influencing women's decisions on the matter are existing social norms, availability of childcare, and presence of a collaborative partner.

Suggested Citation

  • Debora Di Gioacchino & Emanuela Ghignoni & Alina Verashchagina, 2020. "To be or not to be a (good) mother: Life-long decisions of women in Italy," Working Papers in Public Economics 193, Department of Economics and Law, Sapienza University of Roma.
    • Handle: RePEc:sap:wpaper:wp193
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Isabella Giorgetti & Matteo Picchio, 2021. "One billion euro programme for early childcare services in Italy," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(3), pages 460-492, July.
    2. Emanuela Ghignoni & Alina Verashchagina, 2016. "Added worker effect during the Great Recession: evidence from Italy," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 37(8), pages 1264-1285, November.
    3. Matteo Picchio & Claudia Pigini & Stefano Staffolani & Alina Verashchagina, 2021. "If not now, when? The timing of childbirth and labor market outcomes," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(6), pages 663-685, September.
    4. Raquel Fernández & Alessandra Fogli & Claudia Olivetti, 2004. "Mothers and Sons: Preference Formation and Female Labor Force Dynamics," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 119(4), pages 1249-1299.
    5. David Roodman, 2009. "Mixed-process models with cmp," DC09 Stata Conference 11, Stata Users Group.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fertility; Career break; Female labour force participation; Italy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • 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

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