Year: 2017
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Recently, a dramatic increase in the labor force participation of women in many countries has occurred. Female lifestyle choices appear to be more flexible than they were earlier. Yet certain cross-national differences remain. What causes these differences to emerge? \n \nMy Master's thesis addressed how the decisions of firms regarding family leave influence the decision-making process of women. According to a game theoretic model, the availability and cost of childcare are the two central factors in the explanation of the choices that women make in relation to having a child and returning to work after taking a leave. Moreover, the replacement rate of paternity leave raises the question of the father's participation in taking care of a child. The length of leave strengthens the preference of a child during a leave. Lastly, the possibility of a fine has an effect on the recruitment phase as it might weight the cost of hiring a new employee in case the firms decide not to offer leave. In addition, a laboratory experiment demonstrated the impact of absence on the interactive decision-making between firms and workers. The positive and statistically significant correlation and causality between the wage provision by firms and the effort level set by workers was observed. Moreover, the absence of workers decreased the wage provision and the effort level. \n \nIn sum, this study contributed to the way in which female lifecycle decisions are formed theoretically. The influence of firms on the lifecycle decision of female workers was found to be absolutely substantial. The results of the model and the laboratory experiment provided a rigorous scientific foundation for developing the efficient instruments of promoting a gender equal society.
Author: Saki Kudo
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: University of California, Irvine
OpenAlex ID: W2612350871