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Can Public Policies Break the Gender Mold? Evidence from Paternity Leave Reforms in Six Countries

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Abstract

We investigate the impact of paternity leave policies on gender role attitudes in the next generation. We measure gender-stereotypical attitudes using an Implicit Association Test with 3,000 online respondents in six countries. Using an RD design, we observe a significant reduction (-0.20 SD) in gender-stereotypical attitudes among men born post-paternity leave implementation. This shift influences career choices, as men whose fathers were affected by the reform are more inclined to pursue counter-stereotypical jobs, particularly in high-skilled occupations like healthcare and education. Our findings highlight how paternity leave fosters egalitarian gender norms and affects the occupational choices of the next generation.

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  • Sébastien Fontenay & Libertad González Luna, 2024. "Can Public Policies Break the Gender Mold? Evidence from Paternity Leave Reforms in Six Countries," Economics Working Papers 1879, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    • Handle: RePEc:upf:upfgen:1879
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    1. Salvatore Lo Bello & Iacopo Morchio, 2022. "Like father, like son: Occupational choice, intergenerational persistence and misallocation," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 13(2), pages 629-679, May.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender norms; paternity leave; female-dominated occupations; regression discontinuity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • 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
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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