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Does the right to work part-time affect mothers' labor market outcomes?

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  • Paule-Paludkiewicz, Hannah

Abstract

This paper studies how the statutory right to work part-time affects mothers' post-birth labor market outcomes. I use a differences-in-differences design to investigate a reform in Germany that granted the right to work part-time to employees of firms with more than 15 employees. I find that the reform increased the probability of eligible mothers working part-time in the short run after childbirth, indicating that the law relaxed a binding constraint. In the longer run, the reform had a positive effect on maternal employment and labor income, but did not change part-time status significantly.

Suggested Citation

  • Paule-Paludkiewicz, Hannah, 2024. "Does the right to work part-time affect mothers' labor market outcomes?," Discussion Papers 12/2024, Deutsche Bundesbank.
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:bubdps:298853
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Female Employment; Part-Time Work; Fertility; Family and Work Obligations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J83 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Workers' Rights

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