Work

Public Policies and Women's Employment after Childbearing

Year: 2009

Type: report

Abstract: This paper examines how the public policy environment in the United States affects work by new mothers following childbirth.We examine four types of policies that vary across states and affect the budget constraint in different ways.The policy environment has important effects, particularly for less advantaged mothers.There is a potential conflict between policies aiming to increase maternal employment and those maximizing the choices available to families with young children.However, this tradeoff is not absolute since some choice-increasing policies (generous child care subsidies and state parental leave laws) foster both choice and higher levels of employment.

Source: National Bureau of Economic Research

DOI: 10.3386/w14660

Authors: Wen-Jui Han, Christopher Ruhm, Jane Waldfogel, Elizabeth Washbrook

Institutions: National Bureau of Economic Research, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of Bristol, Columbia University

Language: English

Topic: Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Reduced inequalities, Gender equality

Open Access status: green

Funders: Leverhulme Trust, Economic and Social Research Council