Gender und Arbeitsmarkt
Das Themendossier "Gender und Arbeitsmarkt" bietet wissenschaftliche und politiknahe Veröffentlichungen zu den Themen Erwerbsbeteiligung von Frauen und Männern, Müttern und Vätern, Berufsrückkehrenden, Betreuung/Pflege und Arbeitsteilung in der Familie, Work-Life-Management, Determinanten der Erwerbsbeteiligung, geschlechtsspezifische Lohnunterschiede, familien- und steuerpolitische Regelungen sowie Arbeitsmarktpolitik für Frauen und Männer.
Mit dem Filter „Autorenschaft“ können Sie auf IAB-(Mit-)Autorenschaft eingrenzen.
- Erwerbsbeteiligung von Frauen
- Erwerbsbeteiligung von Männern
- Kinderbetreuung und Pflege
- Berufliche Geschlechtersegregation
- Berufsrückkehr – Wiedereinstieg in den Arbeitsmarkt
- Dual-Career-Couples
- Work-Life
- Geschlechtsspezifische Lohnunterschiede
- Familienpolitische Rahmenbedingungen
- Aktive/aktivierende Arbeitsmarktpolitik
- Arbeitslosigkeit und passive Arbeitsmarktpolitik
- geografischer Bezug
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Literaturhinweis
Falling behind unequally: labour market outcomes of Italian couples after childbirth* (2026)
Zitatform
Barbieri, Teresa, Michele Bavaro & Valeria Cirillo (2026): Falling behind unequally: labour market outcomes of Italian couples after childbirth*. In: Applied Economics, S. 1-20. DOI:10.1080/00036846.2026.2624051
Abstract
"This study explores how childbirth differently shapes the career trajectories of men and women within the same couples, with a particular focus on gender disparities in experiencing downward labour transitions following the birth of their first child. Using a unique survey-administrative linked dataset, we track couples’labour market trajectories to analysetransitions from employment to unemployment, full-time to part-time employment, and higher-paid to lower-paid jobs. Additionally, the dataset allows to link partners, enabling the study of factors influencing differences in the probabilities of downward labour market transitions between partners in the same household. Our findings reveal substantial and persistent penalties for women, lasting up to three years after childbirth, which are mainly related to part-time job arrangements. When examining differences in probabilities within couples, households in which women have tertiary education with respect to their partners and are the primary earners exhibit smaller gender disparities in the likelihood of downward labour transitions with respect to other households." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
What hinders employees’ access to and use of family-friendly policies: a systematic review of motivations, opportunities, and abilities (2026)
Zitatform
Blom, Rutger & Lianne Aarntzen (2026): What hinders employees’ access to and use of family-friendly policies: a systematic review of motivations, opportunities, and abilities. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-40. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2026.2625440
Abstract
"In recent decades, many people increasingly need to juggle work with family responsibilities. Despite the availability of family-friendly organizational policies aimed at alleviating these challenges, employees are often not granted access to them, do not perceive them as accessible, and are reluctant to use them. This systematic review examines the barriers hindering the effective implementation of family-friendly policies using a multilevel Motivation-Opportunity-Ability (MOA) framework. Reviewing 80 empirical studies on antecedents of access to and use of family-friendly policies, we evaluated the strength of evidence for each antecedent based on the study quality, consistency across studies, and the degree to which the study could be generalized to real-life contexts. Findings reveal that (1) lack of support at different stakeholder levels is a key barrier to access and use of policies, (2) underprivileged workers are restrained from access, (3) gendered workplace norms exclude men from using policies, (4) female-dominated occupations and sectors offer the lowest access to family-friendly policies. Under-researched areas, such as the sector and coworker levels, along with the ability dimension of the MOA framework, require further exploration. The insights derived in this review may help the development of targeted organizational interventions, supporting employees to achieve a satisfactory work-life balance." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Geschlechtergerecht gestalten: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Arbeitsmarkt- und Sozialpolitik (2026)
Zitatform
Bothfeld, Silke, Christian Hohendanner, Petra Schütt & Aysel Yollu-Tok (Hrsg.) (2026): Geschlechtergerecht gestalten. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Arbeitsmarkt- und Sozialpolitik. Frankfurt: Campus Verlag, 471 S. DOI:10.12907/978-3-593-45932-5
Abstract
"Trotz zahlreicher Bemühungen und Erfolge in der Gleichstellungspolitik seit Ende der 1990er Jahre bestehen in der Praxis nach wie vor erhebliche geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede auf dem Arbeitsmarkt. Frauen haben nach wie vor geringere Erfolgsaussichten beim Zugang und beim Verbleib in Beschäftigung, ihre Bezahlung und ihre Aufstiegsmöglichkeiten sind schlechter. Die Beiträge dieses Bandes bieten einen umfassenden Überblick über die aktuelle geschlechtsbezogene Arbeits(marktpolitik-)forschung. Mit einem multiperspektivischen Blick auf den vergeschlechtlichten Arbeitsmarkt gelingt es dem Band, historische Aspekte, Gegenwartsanalysen sowie gesellschaftliche Transformationsprozesse und Lösungsansätze zu verbinden." (Verlagsangaben, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Einleitung: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen einer geschlechtergerechten Arbeitsmarkt- und Sozialpolitik (2026)
Zitatform
Bothfeld, Silke, Christian Hohendanner, Petra Schütt & Aysel Yollu-Tok (2026): Einleitung: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen einer geschlechtergerechten Arbeitsmarkt- und Sozialpolitik. In: S. Bothfeld, C. Hohendanner, P. Schütt & A. Yollu-Tok (Hrsg.) (2026): Geschlechtergerecht gestalten. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Arbeitsmarkt- und Sozialpolitik, S. 9-26.
Abstract
"Wer über Geschlechtergerechtigkeit spricht, kommt an der begrifflichen Unterscheidung zwischen Gleichberechtigung und Gleichstellungspolitik nicht vorbei. Diese Differenz ist grundlegend für das Verständnis politischer, sozialer und ökonomischer Maßnahmen zur Überwindung geschlechterbezogener Ungleichheiten. Gleichberechtigung meint die rechtlich garantierte Gleichheit von Frauen und Männern – wie sie etwa in Artikel 3 des Grundgesetzes verankert ist. Sie garantiert allen Menschen denselben Zugang zu Rechten: zum Bildungssystem, zum Arbeitsmarkt, zu politischen Ämtern. Doch so unverzichtbar diese rechtliche Grundlage ist, so unzureichend ist sie, wenn es um die tatsächliche Teilhabe in einer nach wie vor von struktureller Ungleichheit geprägten Gesellschaft geht. Hier setzt die Gleichstellungspolitik an: Sie begnügt sich nicht mit der formalen Gleichheit, sondern zielt auf faktische Chancengleichheit. Für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter wurde daher im Artikel 3 Abs. 2 (»Männer und Frauen sind gleichberechtigt.«) 1994 der Zusatz aufgenommen »Der Staat fördert die tatsächliche Durchsetzung der Gleichberechtigung von Frauen und Männern und wirkt auf die Beseitigung bestehender Nachteile hin«. Die Gleichstellungspolitik soll in diesem Sinne bestehende Benachteiligungen – etwa beim Einkommen, bei der Verteilung von Sorgearbeit, beim Zugang zu Führungspositionen oder in den sozialen Sicherungssystemen – sichtbar machen und Instrumente entwickeln, um Ungleichheiten abzubauen. Gleichstellungspolitik bedeutet nicht Privilegierung oder Sonderbehandlung, sondern sie ist Ausdruck eines demokratischen Gestaltungsauftrags: Sie soll sicherstellen, dass Gleichberechtigung nicht nur auf dem Papier steht, sondern im gesellschaftlichen Alltag wirksam wird. Dieser Sammelband greift zentrale Fragen dieser Gestaltungsaufgabe im Rahmen der Arbeitsmarkt- und Sozialpolitik auf und versammelt Beiträge, die sich mit geschlechterbezogenen Ungleichheiten am Arbeitsmarkt und im Sozialstaat befassen – empirisch fundiert, theoretisch reflektiert und mit einem gemeinsamen Ziel: Geschlechtergerechtigkeit nicht nur zu fordern, sondern Hinweise und Vorschläge für die Gestaltung von konkreten Strukturen und politischen Maßnahmen zu präsentieren." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Arbeits- und Betreuungsarrangements von Familien mit kleinen Kindern: Gesellschaftliche Einstellung zu Erwerbstätigkeit von Müttern und externer Kinderbetreuung (2026)
Zitatform
Frodermann, Corinna, Eileen Peters, Marie-Fleur Philipp & Claudia Wenzig (2026): Arbeits- und Betreuungsarrangements von Familien mit kleinen Kindern: Gesellschaftliche Einstellung zu Erwerbstätigkeit von Müttern und externer Kinderbetreuung. (IAB-Kurzbericht 02/2026), Nürnberg, 8 S. DOI:10.48720/IAB.KB.2602
Abstract
"Die Förderung der Erwerbsintegration von Frauen und speziell von Müttern ist ein zentrales Thema der Arbeitsmarkt- und Gleichstellungspolitik. Entscheidend für eine Erwerbsaufnahme von Müttern sind dabei nicht nur die Bedingungen am Arbeitsmarkt und die vorhandenen Möglichkeiten der externen Kinderbetreuung, sondern auch die Einstellung zu Familie und Beruf. Vor diesem Hintergrund untersuchen die Autorinnen Normvorstellungen in der Bevölkerung zur außerhäuslichen Betreuung von Kindern und zur Erwerbstätigkeit von Müttern." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
Weiterführende Informationen
- Durchschnittliches Alter des Kindes, zu dem Frauen und Männer externe Kinderbetreuung und Erwerbstätigkeit der Mütter als angemessen empfinden
- Einstellung der Bevölkerung zur Erwerbstätigkeit von Müttern und zur externen Betreuung von Kindern
- Einflussgrößen der Einstellungen zur ganztägigen Kinderbetreuung und zur Vollzeiterwerbstätigkeit der Mütter
- Durchschnittliches Alter des Kindes, zu dem die Befragten externe Kinderbetreuung und Erwerbstätigkeit der Mütter als angemessen empfinden
- Anteile der Befragten, die eine externe Kinderbetreuung und eine Erwerbstätigkeit der Mütter bei einem bestimmten Alter des Kindes als angemessen empfinden
- Einstellungen von Frauen und Männern zur ganztägigen Kinderbetreuung und Vollzeiterwerbstätigkeit der Mütter - Unterschiede nach eigener Elternschaft
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Literaturhinweis
The Effect of Access to Legal Abortion on Fertility, Marriage, and Long-term Outcomes for Women (2026)
Zitatform
González, Libertad, Sergi Jiménez-Martín, Natalia Nollenberger & Judit Vall Castello (2026): The Effect of Access to Legal Abortion on Fertility, Marriage, and Long-term Outcomes for Women. In: The Economic Journal, Jg. 136, H. 674, S. 440-467. DOI:10.1093/ej/ueaf054
Abstract
"We evaluate the short- and long-term effects for women of access to legal, subsidized abortion. We find evidence that the legalization of abortion in Spain in 1985 led to an immediate decrease in births, more pronounced for younger women in provinces with a higher supply of abortion services. Affected women were more likely to graduate from high school, less likely to marry young, less likely to divorce in the long-term, and reported higher life satisfaction as adults. We find at most small reductions in completed fertility, while we do not find meaningful effects on labour market outcomes in the long run." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Erwerbsbeteiligung von Frauen ab 45: Empirische Evidenz zum Einfluss finanzieller Anreize (2026)
Zitatform
Herrmann, Fiona, Lavinia Kinne & Katharina Wrohlich (2026): Erwerbsbeteiligung von Frauen ab 45. Empirische Evidenz zum Einfluss finanzieller Anreize. Gütersloh, 88 S. DOI:10.11586/2026036
Abstract
"Vor dem Hintergrund des demografischen Wandels und des damit einhergehenden zunehmenden Drucks auf die sozialen Sicherungssysteme werden aktuell die Erwerbsbeteiligung und die wöchentliche Erwerbsarbeitszeit von Frauen diskutiert. Die Erwerbsbeteiligung von Frauen in Deutschland ist in den letzten Jahrzehnten stark gestiegen und liegt mit über 75 Prozent im internationalen Vergleich sehr hoch. Allerdings ist auch der Anteil der Teilzeitbeschäftigten unter den Frauen sehr hoch. Dies ist nicht nur bei Frauen mit jungen Kindern, sondern auch in der Altersgruppe ab 45 Jahren zu beobachten. Ein großer Teil der beschäftigten Frauen ist von der Phase der Familiengründung bis zum Ende ihrer Erwerbstätigkeit in Teilzeit erwerbstätig. Dadurch entsteht eine große geschlechtsspezifische Lücke in der Erwerbsarbeit, die auch negative Auswirkungen auf die Alterseinkünfte von Frauen hat. In dieser Studie werden die Gründe für den hohen Teilzeitanteil von Frauen in der Altersgruppe ab 45 Jahren untersucht. Dazu wurde eine Befragung der Zielgruppe (Frauen im Alter von 45 bis 66 Jahren) mit einem Vignetten-Experiment kombiniert. Dies ermöglicht es, nicht nur die Gründe für die aktuellen Erwerbsentscheidungen der Befragten zu ermitteln, sondern auch ihre Einstellungen zur Erwerbstätigkeit in verschiedenen Szenarien zu erheben. Aus diesen Erkenntnissen lassen sich unter anderem die Wirkungen finanzieller Anreize auf die Erwerbsentscheidungen von Frauen ableiten. Die Ergebnisse der Befragung zu den Gründen der aktuellen Erwerbsentscheidungen der Befragten zeigen, dass die meisten der nicht erwerbstätigen 45–66-jährigen Frauen aus gesundheitlichen Gründen ihren Beruf aufgegeben haben. Fast ein Drittel der Befragten gab auch an, dass es sich für sie finanziell nicht lohnen würde, eine Erwerbstätigkeit aufzunehmen. Die in Teilzeit beschäftigten Frauen gaben als Gründe für diese Wahl mehrheitlich an, Zeit für die Familie zu benötigen bzw. eine Vollzeittätigkeit als zu hohe körperliche Belastung zu empfinden. In dieser Gruppe gab sogar fast die Hälfte der Befragten an, dass sich eine Ausweitung der Erwerbstätigkeit finanziell zu wenig lohnen würde. Im Vignetten-Teil der Studie wurden den Befragten hypothetische Szenarien vorgelegt, die sich nach der Höhe des Stundenlohnes, der Art der Aufteilung der Sorgearbeit im Haushalt, den Arbeitsbedingungen und der -flexibilität sowie der Art der Besteuerung (gemeinsame versus getrennte Veranlagung) unterschieden. Die Befragten wurden gebeten, die aus ihrer Sicht optimale Arbeitszeit für die Frauen in diesen hypothetischen Situationen anzugeben. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass veränderte finanzielle Anreize durch ein alternatives Steuerszenario die Erwerbsbeteiligung und die durchschnittlichen Erwerbsarbeitsstunden signifikant erhöhen würden. Insbesondere würde der Anteil der Frauen in Minijobs dadurch zugunsten einer höheren Vollzeit- und Teilzeit-Erwerbstätigkeit sinken. Auch die Aufteilung der Sorgearbeit und die Arbeitsbedingungen beeinflussen die gewählte Arbeitszeit. Unabhängig von der Aufteilung der Sorgearbeit und der Art der Arbeitsbedingungen zeigt die Vignetten-Befragung jedoch, dass finanzielle Anreize in allen Fällen eine wichtige Rolle spielen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku, © Bertelsmann Stiftung)
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Literaturhinweis
Beyond left and right: Socio-cultural determinants of parenting leave policy in advanced democracies (2026)
Zitatform
Hieda, Takeshi (2026): Beyond left and right: Socio-cultural determinants of parenting leave policy in advanced democracies. In: Journal of European Social Policy. DOI:10.1177/09589287251410874
Abstract
"This study examines the political determinants of parenting leave policy across 21 OECD countries from 1970 to 2021. While prior research has linked parenting leave expansion to social democratic and Christian democratic governments, this paper argues that party positions in the two-dimensional ideological space—socio-economic left–right and socio-cultural libertarian–authoritarian—better explain policy preferences. Using mixed-effects ordered logit models, the analysis reveals that socio-cultural rather than socio-economic positions drive parenting leave expansion. Governments with libertarian socio-cultural orientations are more likely to extend paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave for both mothers and fathers. These findings remain robust even when controlling for party family, indicating that the influence of Christian democratic and social democratic governments stems from their shifts towards libertarian positions. The study provides new insights into the partisan determinants of parenting leave policy, highlighting the role of socio-cultural competition in shaping welfare state transformations in post-industrial democracies." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
The leave gap: actual versus optimal maternity leave in a sample of US breastfeeding women (2026)
Zitatform
Johnson, Katherine M. & Christina McCarthy (2026): The leave gap: actual versus optimal maternity leave in a sample of US breastfeeding women. In: Community, work & family, Jg. 29, H. 1, S. 43-50. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2024.2339318
Abstract
"Access to quality parental leave is a prominent US work-family issue and crucial for supporting maternal and child health, including breastfeeding outcomes. This is even more salient given the recently updated US public health recommendation to breastfeed for up to two-plus years. Yet little prior research on work-breastfeeding conflict, has addressed breastfeeding women's perceptions of maternity leave. How much leave do breastfeeding women want relative to what they receive? What shapes their optimal leave perceptions? Using in-depth interview data, we first examined the leave gap between optimal and actual leave duration. Most interviewees reported a leave deficit, averaging 20 weeks. We then examined perceptions of optimal leave - identifying four themes: (1) making comparisons, (2) role transition and adjustment, (3) the developing child, and (4) return-readiness. Overall, we argue that it is important to consider ideal leave and the leave gap, which may produce further strain for breastfeeding employees." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Life-Cycle Effects of Public Childcare: Evidence on Children and Their Parents (2026)
Silliman, Mikko; Mäkinen, Juuso;Zitatform
Silliman, Mikko & Juuso Mäkinen (2026): Life-Cycle Effects of Public Childcare: Evidence on Children and Their Parents. (CESifo working paper 12372), München, 102 S.
Abstract
"This paper provides large-scale evidence linking the economic effects of childcare programs to social skills measured in adulthood. We examine Finland's first national public childcare program, and document that it increased parental labor supply - through retirement - while reducing the intergenerational persistence of income. Critically, we leverage Finnish Defence Forces data on the near population of males to show that effects on children's adult income are underlied by lasting effects on social skills. Further, we show that life-cycle cost-effectiveness estimates based on the assumption of constant effects after typical observation windows can considerably overestimate the net costs of public childcare." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Fertility and Family Leave Policies in Germany: Optimal Policy Design in a Dynamic Framework (2026)
Zitatform
Wang, Hanna (2026): Fertility and Family Leave Policies in Germany: Optimal Policy Design in a Dynamic Framework. (RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2026,29), Berlin, 71 S.
Abstract
"I develop and estimate a life-cycle discrete-choice model of fertility and female labor supply to study the optimal design of a range of child-related policies. First, I examine two German reforms that introduced wage-contingent parental leave payments and expanded access to low-cost public childcare. I find that both reforms raised completed fertility, with the parental leave reform having a particularly strong impact on highly educated women. Second, I solve for a budget-neutral optimal policy portfolio that maximizes either aggregate welfare or fertility, while ensuring that welfare and fertility do not decline for any education group. I consider four prominent child subsidies as well as the degree of tax jointness. My results show that optimal policy has the potential to increase welfare by 0.5% or fertility by 5.7%. While the solutions are qualitatively similar, they prioritize different policy instruments depending on the specific objective being targeted." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Das Arbeitskräftepotenzial von Frauen - ein Weg aus dem Fachkräftemangel? (2026)
Zitatform
Wanger, Susanne (2026): Das Arbeitskräftepotenzial von Frauen - ein Weg aus dem Fachkräftemangel? In: S. Bothfeld, C. Hohendanner, P. Schütt & A. Yollu-Tok (Hrsg.) (2026): Geschlechtergerecht gestalten. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Arbeitsmarkt- und Sozialpolitik, S. 75-90, 2025-02-11.
Abstract
"Trotz zunehmender Erwerbstätigkeit bleibt die Erwerbsbeteiligung von Frauen hinter deren Präferenzen zurück. Das unausgeschöpfte Erwerbspotenzial von teilzeitbeschäftigten Frauen, die ihre Arbeitszeit ausdehnen möchten, entspricht derzeit knapp 700.000 Vollzeitäquivalenten. Die Realisierung der Arbeitszeitwünsche und die Ausschöpfung des ungenutztem Arbeitsvolumens bei Frauen verlangt jedoch die Schaffung von günstigen Rahmenbedingungen, wie etwa bedarfsgerechte Kinderbetreuung und stärkere finanzielle Anreize für eine gleichmäßigere Aufteilung der Erwerbs- und Sorgearbeit." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Unveiling hidden impacts: heterogeneous effects of extended parental leave on mothers’ labour outcomes* (2026)
Zhao, Qiongda; Zhang, Zhuo;Zitatform
Zhao, Qiongda & Zhuo Zhang (2026): Unveiling hidden impacts: heterogeneous effects of extended parental leave on mothers’ labour outcomes*. In: Applied Economics, S. 1-16. DOI:10.1080/00036846.2026.2624050
Abstract
"This paper examines the impact of extended parental leave benefits in Canada on mothers’ earnings following childbirth. Weexploit a sharp policy cut-off and implement a regression discontinuity design combined with a difference-in-differences approach (RD-DD), comparing mothers who gave birth shortly before and after the reform. We find that the extension of cash benefits leads to a reduction in mothers’earnings in the short run, reflecting delayed returns to work. In contrast, medium- and long-run effects on average earnings are small and statistically insignificant. These null mean effects, however, conceal substantial heterogeneity. Quantile regression estimates show that extending cash benefits without extending job protection generates sizable earnings losses among high-earning mothers, whereas extending job protection substantially mitigates these losses and yields positive effects for middle-earning mothers. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of job protection in parental leave design, suggesting that it helps high-earning mothers maintain career continuity while providing greater stability for middle earners." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Motherhood and Systemic Gender Pay Gap Faced by Women in European Union Countries (2026)
Zitatform
Zhu, Ning, Aleksandra Gaweł & Timo Toikko (2026): Motherhood and Systemic Gender Pay Gap Faced by Women in European Union Countries. In: Journal of Family and Economic Issues, S. 1-19. DOI:10.1007/s10834-025-10072-6
Abstract
"Despite progress in reducing gender pay disparities, wage inequalities remain persistent across European Union (EU) countries, and due to motherhood penalties, the situation for mothers is even more disadvantageous compared to childless women. As women are often perceived through the lens of stereotypical maternal roles—even if they are not yet mothers—these expectations frequently intersect with personal choices as well as the embodied and material realities of caregiving. In this study, we examine the impact of motherhood and its interactions with other factors on the gender pay gap from a macro-level systemic perspective, using panel data from 27 EU countries between 2006 and 2022. Key findings indicate that motherhood-related factors such as fertility rates and the timing of childbirth have complex relationships with the pay gap, often interacting through education and flexible work arrangements. While delayed childbirth reduces gender pay gaps by mitigating career interruptions, structural and cultural supports are critical factors in alleviating wage penalties. We also confirm the significant influence of women’s educational attainment, employment rate, and flexibility in employment on wage disparities. The study underscores the importance of integrating family-friendly policies, promoting flexible yet equitable work conditions, and addressing biases surrounding motherhood to achieve gender pay equality." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Parental Leave: Economic Incentives and Cultural Change (2025)
Albrecht, James ; Edin, Per-Anders ; Fernandez, Raquel; Vroman, Susan ; Thoursie, Peter; Lee, Jiwon;Zitatform
Albrecht, James, Per-Anders Edin, Raquel Fernandez, Jiwon Lee, Peter Thoursie & Susan Vroman (2025): Parental Leave: Economic Incentives and Cultural Change. (CEPR discussion paper / Centre for Economic Policy Research 20541), London, 57 S.
Abstract
"The distribution of parental leave uptake and childcare activities continues to conform to traditional gender roles. In 2002, with the goal of increasing gender equality, Sweden added a second “daddy month,” i.e., an additional month of pay-related parental leave reserved exclusively for each parent. This policy increased men’s parental leave uptake and decreased women’s, thereby increasing men’s share. To understand how various factors contributed to these outcomes, we develop and estimate a quantitative model of the household in which preferences towards parental leave respond to peer behavior. We distinguish households by the education of the parents and ask the model to match key features of the parental leave distribution before and after the reform by gender and household type (the parents’ education). We find that changed incentives and, especially, changed social norms played an important role in generating these outcomes whereas changed wage parameters, including the future wage penalty associated with different lengths of parental leave uptake, were minor contributors. We then use our model to evaluate three counterfactual policies designed to increase men’s share of parental leave and conclude that giving each parent a non-transferable endowment of parental leave or only paying for the length of time equally taken by each parent would both dramatically increase men’s share whereas decreasing childcare costs has almost no effect." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Reducing the child penalty by incentivizing maternal part-time work? (2025)
Zitatform
Baertsch, Laurenz & Malte Sandner (2025): Reducing the child penalty by incentivizing maternal part-time work? In: Labour Economics, Jg. 95, 2025-07-08. DOI:10.1016/j.labeco.2025.102759
Abstract
"Governments worldwide are discussing ways to increase maternal labor market participation and to reduce the child penalty. This study analyzes the long run effects of a paid parental leave reform in Germany, a country characterized by high rates of maternal part-time employment after childbirth. The reform introduced additional financial incentives for mothers to engage in part-time work during the first two years following childbirth. Using German social security records, we exploit the fact that only mothers whose child is born in or after July 2015 are eligible for the new part-time parental leave option in a Difference-in-Differences strategy. We find that the policy increased the probability that high-income mothers return to work during the first year after child birth by 2.1–2.8 percentage points ( 15%–20%). However, the policy does not affect maternal employment along the extensive or intensive margin (part-time or full-time work) in the long run (i.e. up to 4.5 years after child). This indicates that while the reform successfully encourages early part-time return to work among high-income mothers, it does not significantly reduce the child penalty. However, it does also not trap mothers in part-time employment." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Elsevier) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
The labor market effects of pregnancy accommodation laws (2025)
Battaglia, Emily; Brown, Jessica H.;Zitatform
Battaglia, Emily & Jessica H. Brown (2025): The labor market effects of pregnancy accommodation laws. In: Journal of Population Economics, Jg. 38, H. 4. DOI:10.1007/s00148-025-01141-z
Abstract
"Pregnancy accommodation laws require “reasonable accommodations” for pregnant workers, i.e., sitting down, lifting restrictions, and additional bathroom breaks. Although these laws may make it easier for women to remain employed during pregnancy, as a mandated benefit, they may also discourage employers from hiring employees who may become pregnant. We estimate the effect of pregnancy accommodation laws on labor market outcomes for women of childbearing age in order to determine whether these laws lead employers to discriminate against young women in hiring. Using a difference-in-differences design comparing women’s labor market outcomes across states throughout the staggered roll-out of thirteen state pregnancy accommodation laws from 2013 to 2016, we find no impact on female employment and wages. These null results are robust to a triple differences design that uses men’s labor market outcomes as an additional control. Subgroupanalyses of groups most likely to be affected, including those with less education, in more physically intense occupations, and married without children, also show no consistent impact of the new laws. These results suggest that this group-specific mandated benefit did not lead to discrimination in the labor market." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
When Mothers Out-Earn Fathers: Effects on Fathers' Decisions to Take Paternity and Parental Leave (2025)
Zitatform
Biasi, Paola, Maria De Paola & Francesca Gioia (2025): When Mothers Out-Earn Fathers: Effects on Fathers' Decisions to Take Paternity and Parental Leave. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 17601), Bonn, 36 S.
Abstract
"This study investigates the influence of the male breadwinner norm on fathers' decisions regarding childcare responsibilities. We study the complex interplay between economic factors and gender norms in shaping the division of household labor within families by analyzing the impact a breadwinning mother has on fathers' choices regarding paternity leave (fully subsidized) and parental leave (partially or not subsidized). We exploit administrative data, provided by the Italian National Security Institute (INPS), including demographic and working characteristics of both parents together with information on the use of paternity and parental leave by fathers in the 2013-2023 period. We find that, in line with the "doing gender" hypothesis, when the leave is fully subsidized, as for paternity leave, fathers are less likely to engage in childcare when their wives earn more than they do. In contrast, this dynamic does not apply in cases of parental leave, where the economic costs of aligning with the gender norm are substantial. The effects we find are robust when replacing the actual probability of there being an out-earning mother with the potential probability and are amplified by the salience of the gender identity norm." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
The Role of Parental Leave Policies in Mitigating Child Penalties: Insights from Italy (2025)
Zitatform
Biasi, Paola & Maria De Paola (2025): The Role of Parental Leave Policies in Mitigating Child Penalties: Insights from Italy. In: Economics Letters, Jg. 253. DOI:10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112355
Abstract
"This study examines child penalties for mothers and fathers in Italy by using novel administrative data. Relying on an event study approach, we find that childbirth affects mothers' earnings negatively, while fathers' earnings remain largely unaffected. However, when leave allowances are included in earnings, the child penalty for women nearly disappears in the year of childbirth and drops by more than half in the following year. Subsequently mothers’ earnings quickly return to pre-birth levels, but never catch up to fathers' earnings, which follow an upward trajectory, increasing by approximately 46% seven years after childbirth." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Selection into maternity leave length and long-run maternal health in Germany (2025)
Zitatform
Bister, Lara, Peter Eibich, Roberta Rutigliano, Mine Kühn & Karen van Hedel (2025): Selection into maternity leave length and long-run maternal health in Germany. In: Journal of Social Policy, Jg. 54, H. 2, S. 528-547. DOI:10.1017/S0047279423000429
Abstract
"Existing literature shows the importance of maternity leave as a strategy for women to balance work and family responsibilities. However, only a few studies focused on the long-run impact of maternity leave length on maternal health. Therefore, how exactly they are related remains unclear. We examine women’s selection into different lengths of maternity leave as a potential explanation for the inconclusive findings in the literature on the association between maternity leave and maternal health. This study aims to unravel the association between maternity leave length and mothers’ long-term health in Germany. Drawing on detailed data from the German Statutory Pension Fund (DRV), we estimated the association between maternity leave length and sick leave from 3 years following their child’s birth for 4,243 women living in Germany in 2015 by applying discrete-time logistic regression. Our results show a negative relationship between maternity-leave length and long-term maternal health, likely driven by negative health selection. Long maternity leaves of more than 24 months were associated with worse maternal health in the long run, while a positive association emerged for vulnerable women with pre-existing health problems." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Supporting men as fathers: the value of a UK community dads’ project during the COVID-19 pandemic (2025)
Zitatform
Blackwell, Ian & Rebecca Carter Dillon (2025): Supporting men as fathers: the value of a UK community dads’ project during the COVID-19 pandemic. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-22. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2025.2575164
Abstract
"This paper presents a study of a community dads’ project during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were gathered via a questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and by attending eleven on-line Conversation Cafés. Men described how the project supported and affirmed their fathering practices as they were able to speak with other father figures about their challenges, to celebrate the rewards of parenting, and to socialise with others. Participants described how their confidence was enhanced and their identity as a father was validated through successful solo parenting activities, opportunities to bond with their child, by creating shared memories, and by being playful and physically active. While the community dads’ project offered welcoming and inclusive spaces for father figures to interact with their children and other dads, we note how these ‘dads only’ settings can be locations where mothers can be ‘othered’ as fretful and fussy by some individuals. While highlighting the need to be alert to the potential for such initiatives to become spaces for problematic counter-identification with the maternal, this research concludes that non-judgemental, community-based initiatives can nurture and strengthen father–child relationships, promote caring masculinities, fortify progressive fathering identities and encourage peer validation amongst fathers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Family-Friendly Policies and Fertility: What Firms Have to Do With It? (2025)
Zitatform
Bover, Olympia, Nezih Guner, Yuliya Kulikova, Alessandro Ruggieri & Carlos Sanz (2025): Family-Friendly Policies and Fertility: What Firms Have to Do With It? (CEPR discussion paper / Centre for Economic Policy Research 20411), London, 67 S.
Abstract
"Family-friendly policies aim to help women balance work and family life, encouraging them to participate in the labor market. How effective are such policies in increasing fertility? We answer this question using a search model of the labor market where firms make hiring, promotion, and firing decisions, taking into account how these decisions affect workers' fertility incentives and labor force participation decisions. We estimate the model using administrative data from Spain, a country with very low fertility and a highly regulated labor market. We use the model to study family-friendly policies and demonstrate that firms' reactions result in a trade-off: policies that increase fertility reduce women's participation in the labor market and lower their lifetime earnings." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
How Do Firms Respond to Parental Leave Absences? (2025)
Zitatform
Brenøe, Anne Ardila, Urša Krenk, Andreas Steinhauer & Josef Zweimüller (2025): How Do Firms Respond to Parental Leave Absences? (CEPR discussion paper / Centre for Economic Policy Research 20140), London, 42 S.
Abstract
"How do firms adjust their labor demand when a female employee takes temporary leave after childbirth? Using Austrian administrative data, we compare firms with and without a birth event and exploit policy reforms that significantly altered leave durations. We find that (i) firms adjust hiring, employment, and wages around leave periods, but these effects fade quickly; (ii) adjustments differ sharply by gender, reflecting strong gender segregation within firms; (iii) longer leave entitlements extend actual leave absences but have only short-term effects; and (iv) there is no impact on firm closure up to five years after birth." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Ähnliche Treffer
auch erschienen als IZA discussion paper 17845 -
Literaturhinweis
Väter, die länger in Elternzeit sind, arbeiten auch längerfristig weniger (Serie "Equal Pay Day 2025") (2025)
Zitatform
Bächmann, Ann-Christin, Andreas Filser & Corinna Frodermann (2025): Väter, die länger in Elternzeit sind, arbeiten auch längerfristig weniger (Serie "Equal Pay Day 2025"). In: IAB-Forum H. 07.04.2025. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FOO.20250407.01
Abstract
"Die Verdienste von Vätern, die nach der Geburt ihres ersten Kindes Elternzeit nehmen, steigen in den darauffolgenden Jahren im Schnitt etwas langsamer als die Verdienste von Vätern, die auf Elternzeit verzichten. Dies hängt stark damit zusammen, dass insbesondere Väter, die mehr als zwei Monate in Elternzeit gehen, danach zum Beispiel häufiger in Teilzeit arbeiten." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Beliefs and Realities of Work and Care After Childbirth (2025)
Zitatform
Caplin, Andrew, Søren Leth-Petersen & Christopher Tonetti (2025): Beliefs and Realities of Work and Care After Childbirth. (CEPR discussion paper / Centre for Economic Policy Research 20423), London, 32 S.
Abstract
"Models of female labor supply routinely assume that women have accurate expectations about post-birth employment, but little is known about whether this assumption holds. We use a 2019 state-contingent survey of 11,000 Danish women linked to administrative data to compare pre-birth beliefs to realized outcomes. Mothers accurately anticipate long-run return to work but systematically overestimate how soon it will occur. Miscalibration stems from two belief errors—about partner leave and own labor supply—which interact and persist even among second-time mothers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Ähnliche Treffer
auch erschienen als: NBER working paper 34289 -
Literaturhinweis
The Effects of Extended Parental Benefits on Parents’ Employment and Earnings in Canada (2025)
Zitatform
Choi, Youjin, Rachel Margolis & Anders Holm (2025): The Effects of Extended Parental Benefits on Parents’ Employment and Earnings in Canada. In: Demography, Jg. 62, H. 3, S. 879-898. DOI:10.1215/00703370-11958785
Abstract
"Paid parental benefits, with individually earmarked time for mothers and fathers, aim to promote gender equality in labor force participation, wages, and childcare. The Canadian province of Québec expanded parental benefits over and above the federal policy in 2006 with the Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), which introduced paid paternity leave and lower eligibility criteria as its key features. This policy aimed to increase gender equality by encouraging fathers to use parental benefits and expanding coverage to low-income parents. Using Canadian administrative data and exploiting the policy changes in 2006 as a natural experiment, we examine the effects of Québec's extended parental benefits policy on parents’ employment and earnings over 10 years after the transition to parenthood. First, we find that fathers’ use of parental benefits had positive long-run effects on mothers’ and fathers’ earnings 8–10 years after a first birth. Second, we find that among women with low earnings before the transition to parenthood, QPIP increased the likelihood of employment 1–7 years after a first birth. This article provides the first evidence that a policy dramatically expanding parental benefits and encouraging use among both parents can have long-term positive effects on parents’ labor market outcomes." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Elterngeld: Mindest- und Höchstbetrag haben seit der Einführung real 27 Prozent an Wert verloren (2025)
Zitatform
Collischon, Matthias (2025): Elterngeld: Mindest- und Höchstbetrag haben seit der Einführung real 27 Prozent an Wert verloren. In: IAB-Forum – Grafik aktuell H. 20.03.2025. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FOO.GA.20250320.01
Abstract
"Die Geburtenrate in Deutschland ist niedrig, laut statistischem Bundesamt lag sie im Jahr 2023 bei 1,35 Geburten je Frau. Die Politik versucht einen Anreiz zum Kinderkriegen zu schaffen, unter anderem mit dem Elterngeld, das 2007 eingeführt wurde. Der Mindestbetrag liegt hier bei 300 Euro im Monat, der Höchstbetrag bei 1.800 Euro. Diese Beträge wurden, im Gegensatz zu anderen Sozialleistungen, seit der Einführung nicht angepasst und haben somit effektiv an Wert verloren." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Employer-provided childcare across the 50 United States: the normative importance of public childcare and female leadership (2025)
Zitatform
Daiger von Gleichen, Rosa (2025): Employer-provided childcare across the 50 United States: the normative importance of public childcare and female leadership. In: Journal of Social Policy, Jg. 54, H. 2, S. 574-594. DOI:10.1017/S0047279423000491
Abstract
"Employer family policy tends to be conceived as employers’ response to economic pressures, with the relevance of normative factors given comparatively little weight. This study questions this status quo, examining the normative relevance of public childcare and female leadership to employer childcare. Logistic regression analyses are performed on data from the 2016 National Study of Employers (NSE), a representative study of private sector employers in the United States. The findings show that public childcare is relevant for those forms of employer childcare more plausibly explained as the result of employers’ normative as opposed to economic considerations. The findings further suggest that female leaders are highly relevant for employer childcare, but that this significance differs depending on whether the form of employer childcare is more likely of economic versus normative importance to employers. The study provides an empirical contribution in that it is the first to use representative data of the United States to examine the relevance of state-level public childcare and female leadership. Its theoretical contribution is to show that normative explanations for employer childcare provision are likely underestimated in U.S. employer family policy research." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Beyond the clock: how individual, workplace, and organizational overtime work shape parental leave uptake in Sweden (2025)
Debruyne, Flore;Zitatform
Debruyne, Flore (2025): Beyond the clock: how individual, workplace, and organizational overtime work shape parental leave uptake in Sweden. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-21. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2025.2590710
Abstract
"The transition to parenthood is a major life-course event that shapes women’s labor market participation and men’s involvement in caregiving. ‘Greedy’ work has been used to explain these gendered patterns, as demanding jobs hinder couples from enacting a more egalitarian division of labor. While studies have investigated how ‘greediness’ affects mothers’ employment and salary, especially in the US, far fewer examine fathers, who may be constrained from fulfilling caregiving roles when pressured to prioritize paid work. Additionally, such studies tend to conflate individual – and contextual-level processes. This study fills this gap by exploring how overtime – at the individual, workplace and organizational levels – relates to parental leave uptake among fathers and mothers. It utilizes extensive survey data linked to administrative register data covering the entire Swedish population. Findings showed that fathers’ individual overtime work was unrelated to parental leave uptake. However, working in a workplace or organization where colleagues worked overtime led to lower leave uptake. For mothers, overtime at any level was unrelated to leave uptake. By examining how parental leave uptake is embedded within three interrelated frameworks – devotion schemas, the ideal worker norm, and greedy institutions – we gain a comprehensive understanding of how overtime work shapes parental leave uptake." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Can Paternity Leave Reduce the Gender Earnings Gap? (2025)
Zitatform
Diallo, Yaya, Fabian Lange & Laetitia Renée (2025): Can Paternity Leave Reduce the Gender Earnings Gap? (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 17624), Bonn, 38 S.
Abstract
"This paper examines the impact of paternity leave on the gender gap in labor market outcomes. Utilizing administrative data from Canadian tax records, we analyze the introduction of Quebec's 2006 paternity leave policy, which offers five weeks of paid leave exclusively to fathers. Using mothers and fathers of children born around the reform, we estimate how the policy impacted labor market outcomes up to 10 years following birth. The reform significantly increased fathers' uptake of parental leave and reduced their earnings immediately after the reform. However, in the medium to long-run, we find that the reform did not impact earnings, employment, or the probability of being employed in a high-wage industry for either parent. We for instance find a 95%-CI for the effect on average female earnings 3-10 years following the reform ranging from -2.2 to +1.7%. Estimates of effects on other outcomes and for males are similarly precise zeros. There is likewise no evidence that the reform changed social norms around care-taking and family responsibilities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Kita-Versorgungsungleichheiten - eine Analyse auf Stadtteilebene (2025)
Zitatform
Diermeier, Matthias, Jan Engler, Melinda Fremerey & Leon Wansleben (2025): Kita-Versorgungsungleichheiten - eine Analyse auf Stadtteilebene. (IW-Kurzberichte / Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft Köln 2025,41), Köln, 3 S.
Abstract
"Der Zugang zu frühkindlicher Bildung hängt auch in Deutschland stark von der sozio-ökonomischen Segregation der Städte ab. Innerhalb derselben Stadt gibt es in wohlsituierten Vierteln im Durchschnitt ein Drittel mehr Kitas pro Anzahl Kinder als in sozio-ökonomisch prekären Räumen. Dieser Unterschied geht darauf zurück, dass sich konfessionelle- und private-gemeinnütze Kitas deutlich häufiger in prosperierenden Quartieren ansiedeln als in sozial schwachen Stadtteilen – öffentliche Kitas können dies nicht kompensieren." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
To Take Leave or Not to Take and How Long to Take? A Study on Swedish Fathers’ Parental Leave Use (2025)
Zitatform
Duvander, Ann-Zofie & Susanne Fahlén (2025): To Take Leave or Not to Take and How Long to Take? A Study on Swedish Fathers’ Parental Leave Use. In: Journal of Family Issues, Jg. 46, H. 6, S. 1050-1078. DOI:10.1177/0192513x251329594
Abstract
"Research on determinants of fathers’ parental leave use often focuses on fathers’ characteristics but leave out that decisions are negotiated with the mother. This study asks how fathers’ and mothers’ characteristics as well as their combination are associated with fathers’ leave use in Sweden, a country where parental leave sharing is encouraged. The results indicate that both fathers’ and mothers’ income and education matter for how long leave the father takes, albeit in gendered ways. Fathers with the lowest income tend not to use leave but if the mother also have no (or low) income, he will use long leave. Among middle-income fathers, a short leave is most common but if the mother has high income, they will instead use a long leave. Fathers’and mothers’ tertiary education are positively associated with leave and two tertiary educations lead to a long leave rather than a short leave." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Towards more gender equal parental time allocation: Norway, 1980–2010 (2025)
Zitatform
Ellingsæter, Anne Lise & Ragni Hege Kitterød (2025): Towards more gender equal parental time allocation: Norway, 1980–2010. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-23. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2025.2521059
Abstract
"Research indicates a converging trend in how mothers and fathers allocate their time across Western societies, leading to a narrowing of gender gaps. Our case study, spanning three decades in the social democratic welfare state of Norway, offers new insights into the long-term processes that might drive these gender convergence trends. Data for this study were drawn from time-use surveys conducted between 1980 and 2010. This exploration of changing time allocation differentiates between mothers and fathers at various stages of parenthood, across different time periods and examines time devoted to work (including paid work, unpaid work, and total workload) as well as non-work (such as leisure and personal needs/rest). The gradual but uneven removal of institutional and cultural constraints – facilitated by the strengthening of egalitarian earner-caregiver policies and norms – was accompanied by significant shifts in how successive Generations of parents allocated their time. Over the decades, mothers’ and fathers’ time allocation became more similar, particularly in the 2000s. Notably, the equalization of time use was especially prominent among parents of preschool-aged children. However, among these parents, the total workload increased, resulting in less leisure time for both mothers and fathers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Parenting leave and gender in Spain: terminology, rationale and design (2025)
Escobedo, Anna; Moss, Peter;Zitatform
Escobedo, Anna & Peter Moss (2025): Parenting leave and gender in Spain: terminology, rationale and design. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-11. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2025.2481861
Abstract
"This Policy Note examines moves to ‘de-gender’ parenting leaves, focusing on the case of Spain, where recent policy developments have replaced ‘Maternity leave’ and ‘Paternity leave’ with gender-neutral terms, and equalised fathers’ to mothers’ formal entitlements for these leaves at birth, instead of moving the focus to develop paid Parental leave. The rationale for and early results of change are considered, before adding examples of changes from other countries, some of which have taken a different approach to gender neutrality based on more extended periods of paid Parental leave accessible and affordable for both parents. Some of the issues raised by such developments are discussed, including whether moves to de-gender leave facilitate or hinder gender equality, the balance between rigidity and flexibility in leave policies, and the representation of children’s interests in leave policy. The conclusion of thePolicy Note is that gender neutral terminology, by itself, is insufficient and that leave policy design is necessary to incentivise more equal use and more equal impacts on parents, though even then the fundamental question remains: does re-design require equal treatment in all respects or do biological differences justify some differences in leave policy?" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Paternity leave in Spain (2025)
Zitatform
Farré, Lídia, Libertad González, Claudia Hupkau & Jenifer Ruiz-Valenzuela (2025): Paternity leave in Spain. In: SERIEs, Jg. 16, H. 3-4, S. 749-784. DOI:10.1007/s13209-025-00320-1
Abstract
"Between 2017 and 2021, Spain progressively extended paternity leave from 2 to 16 weeks, equalizing it with maternity leave and introducing mandatory weeks. A 2018 reform also allowed fathers to split their leave. Using administrative data on all leave permits since 2016, we analyze trends in paternity leave take-up. Following the introduction of mandatory leave, the share of fathers taking leave increased by around 20 percentage points, and most now use nearly the full entitlement. The share opting to split leave has steadily grown, surpassing 50% by 2023. However, this behavior shows marked heterogeneity: While overall uptake is uniform across groups, leave-splitting is far more common among higher-income fathers and more prevalent in certain sectors. Spain’s experience illustrates how policy design can significantly increase paternity leave usage, though workplace flexibility and income-related constraints shape how fathers use that time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Paternity leave in Spain (2025)
Zitatform
Farré, Lídia, Libertad González, Claudia Hupkau & Jenifer Ruiz-Valenzuela (2025): Paternity leave in Spain. (CEP discussion paper / Centre for Economic Performance 2111), London, 47 S.
Abstract
"Between 2017 and 2021, Spain progressively extended paternity leave from 2 to 16 weeks, equalizing it with maternity leave and introducing mandatory weeks. A 2018 reform also allowed fathers to split their leave. Using administrative data on all leave permits since 2016, we analyze trends in paternity leave take-up. Following the introduction of mandatory leave, the share of fathers taking leave increased by around 20 percentage points, and most now use nearly the full entitlement. The share opting to split leave has steadily grown, surpassing 50% by 2023. However, this behavior shows marked heterogeneity: while overall uptake is uniform across groups, leave-splitting is far more common among higher-income fathers and more prevalent in certain sectors. Spain’s experience illustrates how policy design can significantly increase paternity leave usage, though workplace flexibility and income-related constraints shape how fathers use that time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Ähnliche Treffer
spätere (möglicherweise abweichende) Version erschienen in: SERIEs -
Literaturhinweis
Converging mothers' employment trajectories between East and West Germany? A focus on the 2008‐childcare‐reform (2025)
Zitatform
Fauser, Sophia, Emanuela Struffolino & Asaf Levanon (2025): Converging mothers' employment trajectories between East and West Germany? A focus on the 2008‐childcare‐reform. In: Journal of Marriage and Family, Jg. 87, H. 2, S. 566-589. DOI:10.1111/jomf.13040
Abstract
"Objective: Aiming to generate evidence on how contextual conditions shape individuals' opportunities and constraints and, ultimately, life courses, we focus on a period of childcare expansion in reunified Germany. We investigate differences in employment trajectories around mothers' first childbirths to identify potential East–West convergence. Background: During Germany's division (1949–1990), universal public childcare and female full-time employment were the norm in East Germany, while the male breadwinner model was dominant in the West. These differences, although declining, persisted even decades after reunification. In 2008, a reform aimed at expanding childcare availability to facilitate mothers' employment throughout the country. Methods: We measure East–West differences in employment trajectories around childbirth pre- (1990–2007) and post-reform(2008–2021) in terms of timing, order, and duration of events over time. We use data on 359 East and 986 West German first-time-mothers from the German Socio-Economic Panel and sequence analysis tools. Results: Before the reform, employment trajectories between East and West German mothers differed both in timing and duration of employment states. After the reform, these differences decreased, showing a general convergence in the prevalence of post-birth part-time employment. Nonetheless, longer maternity leave is still more prevalent among West German mothers, while East German mothers are more likely to maintain full-time jobs. Conclusion: Our findings show how policy settings and reforms shape life courses in a context-dependent fashion. They illustrate the importance of a methodological approach that focuses on process outcomes and supports a theoretical perspective that highlights how historical time and place shape life courses." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Do I feel entitled to it? Caring dads after the equalization of parental leave in Spain (2025)
Fernández-Cornejo, José Andrés ; Palomo-Vadillo, Maite; Escot, Lorenzo ; Del Pozo-García, Eva ; Cáceres-Ruiz, Juan Ignacio; Castellanos-Serrano, Cristina ;Zitatform
Fernández-Cornejo, José Andrés, Cristina Castellanos-Serrano, Eva Del Pozo-García, Maite Palomo-Vadillo, Juan Ignacio Cáceres-Ruiz & Lorenzo Escot (2025): Do I feel entitled to it? Caring dads after the equalization of parental leave in Spain. In: The international journal of sociology and social policy, Jg. 45, H. 3/4, S. 346-364. DOI:10.1108/ijssp-08-2024-0406
Abstract
"Purpose: In January 2021, Spanish paid parental leave for fathers was fully equated with that for mothers. Is this facilitating working fathers developing an identity of caring fathers? Design/methodology/approach We conducted qualitative research based on 31 interviews with heterosexual fathers residing in Spain, who had a child from January 1, 2021 onwards, who cohabited with the baby ’s mother, and who were salaried. We also added two mothers with the same characteristics and seven human resources managers from large companies. Findings There has been a rapid acceptance and normalization of the use of these new equalized leaves. For many fathers this has been accompanied by the experience of a greater sense of “being legitimized ” to engage in caregiving. The intensity of this process could be subject to two opposing forces. One in favor, especially when fathers care alone for as long as possible; and one against, when fathers assume the role of the mother’s helper and when the support of significant and relevant others is lacking in several domains, including the work place. Social implications Whether this ambivalence is resolved in favor of advancement could depend on how successful public policy is. Reforms of parental leave systems should encourage men to take on single-handed care, and companies should be encouraged to become more aware of the need for co-responsibility between fathers and mothers in childcare. Originality/value Spain now has one of the most gender-equal parental leave systems in the world. It is important to know what meaning new fathers are giving to this advance and to what extent this is facilitating the emergence of a caregiving masculinity." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © EmeraldGroup) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
A social class analysis of desire and outcome concerning parental leave among first-time parents in Sweden: theoretical perspectives and reflections on policy relevance (2025)
Zitatform
Flisbäck, Marita (2025): A social class analysis of desire and outcome concerning parental leave among first-time parents in Sweden: theoretical perspectives and reflections on policy relevance. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-20. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2025.2575769
Abstract
"Parenthood is a practice through which both gender and class are created. Drawing on longitudinal qualitative interviews, this article explores how these processes unfold during the initial phase of parenthood. Analyzing Swedish first-time parents' plans and actual outcomes regarding parental leave, three main motivations emerge: promoting gender equality, bonding with their child, and creating a meaningful life. However, parents in blue-collar occupations seem to distance themselves from the rhetoric of Swedish gender equality policy. For them, parental leave is less about equal opportunities in family and work, and more about solidarity and collective responsibility. A further distinction arises between viewing parental leave as a way to enjoy the present and as a future investment – an idea echoed in recent Swedish family policy. These 'social distinctions' contribute to the formation of different existential mottos that shape parental engagement. Moreover, depending on their cultural and economic capital, and their positions within occupational fields, parents develop varying strategies to align the practice with their wishes. In this context, real freedom diverges from statutory rights. The limits of decommodification within the Swedish parental insurance system appear to affect both the most and least in-demand groups in the labor market." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
From homemakers to breadwinners? How mandatory kindergarten affects maternal labor market outcomes (2025)
Zitatform
Gangl, Selina & Martin Huber (2025): From homemakers to breadwinners? How mandatory kindergarten affects maternal labor market outcomes. In: Journal of Population Economics, Jg. 38, H. 2. DOI:10.1007/s00148-025-01099-y
Abstract
"The majority of Swiss children attend mandatory and cost-free kindergarten at age four. We examine the effect of this policy on maternal labor market outcomes. Using administrative data from Switzerland, we exploit the birthday cut-off for kindergarten entry in the same or in the following year and apply a non-parametric regression discontinuity design (RDD). We find that mandatory kindergarten has a statistically significant positive effect on the labour market attachment of previously non-employed mothers, increasing their employment probability by 4 percentage points. In contrast, there are no significant effects on other groups or in the total sample of mothers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
300.000 Betreuungsplätze für unter Dreijährige fehlen: Eine Betrachtung der Entwicklung von Bestand und Bedarf an Betreuungsplätzen (2025)
Geis-Thöne, Wido;Zitatform
Geis-Thöne, Wido (2025): 300.000 Betreuungsplätze für unter Dreijährige fehlen. Eine Betrachtung der Entwicklung von Bestand und Bedarf an Betreuungsplätzen. (IW-Report / Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft Köln 2025,63), Köln, 24 S.
Abstract
"Hatte die Zahl der unter Dreijährigen in institutioneller Betreuung im Jahr 2023 mit 857.000 ihren Höchststand erreicht, ist sie bis zum Jahr 2025 wieder um 56.000 oder 6,5 Prozent auf nur noch 801.000 gesunken. Niedriger lag sie letztmals im Jahr 2018. Ursächlich hierfür sind vorwiegend die stark gesunkenen Kinderzahlen. Lebten Ende des Jahres 2022 noch 2,28 Millionen unter Dreijährige in Deutschland, waren es Ende des Jahres 2024 nur noch 2,12 Millionen. Gleichzeitig ist im letzten Jahr allerdings auch die Betreuungsquote leicht von 38,2 Prozent auf 37,8 Prozent gesunken (jeweils bezogen auf Kinderzahlen nach Korrektur der Bevölkerungsbestände mit dem Zensus 2022), was bisher nur einmal - im Umfeld der Corona-Pandemie im Jahr 2021 - der Fall war. Legt man die Angaben von Eltern zu den Betreuungswünschen für ihre unter Dreijährigen aus dem Vorjahr zugrunde, hätte im Jahr 2025 an sich ein Bedarf an 1,10 Millionen Betreuungsplätzen bestanden, womit sich rechnerisch eine Lücke von 300.000 Plätzen ergibt. Allerdings ist die Lage regional sehr unterschiedlich. Im Osten ist die Zahl der unter Dreijährigen zwischen dem 31. Dezember 2018 und dem 31. Dezember 2023 um 19,6 Prozent zurückgegangen und damit regelrecht eingebrochen. Damit einhergehend ist auch der rechnerische Bedarf an Betreuungsplätzen zwischen den Jahren 2019 und 2025 von 261.000 auf nur noch 213.000 gesunken. Diese negative Entwicklung dürfte sich noch weiter fortsetzen, da sich im Osten bei den Geburten bislang noch keine Trendumkehr abzeichnet. Auch ist die Betreuungsinfrastruktur mit einer Betreuungsquote von 54,9 Prozent im Jahr 2025 bereits sehr gut ausgebaut. So dürfte ein Rückbau nahezu unumgänglich sein. Allerdings betrifft dies nur die Einrichtungen und nicht das freiwerdende Personal, das eingesetzt werden sollte, um die Relationen zwischen den Betreuungskräften und Kindern zu verbessern und so die Qualität der Angebote zu stärken. In Westdeutschland lag der errechnete Bedarf an Betreuungsplätzen im Jahr 2025 mit 890.000 ähnlich hoch wie im Jahr 2019 mit 891.000. Dies erklärt sich nicht nur mit weit weniger stark rückläufigen Kinderzahlen als im Osten, sondern auch mit noch steigenden Betreuungswünschen der Eltern. Insbesondere in Baden-Württemberg und Bayern dürfte hier auch bei weitem noch nicht das Ende erreicht sein, wobei unter anderem auch die von staatlicher Seite gesteuerte Entwicklung der Elternbeiträge und weiterer Aspekte des institutionellen Rahmens einen Einfluss haben können. Derzeit fehlen in diesen beiden Ländern zusammen rechnerisch 87.000 Betreuungsplätze und in Nordrhein-Westfalen 85.000. Relativ zur Zahl der Kinder liegen die Lücken in Bremen, Rheinland-Pfalz, im Saarland und in Nordrhein-Westfalen mit Werten zwischen 18 Prozent und 19 Prozent am höchsten. Insgesamt ergibt sich für Westdeutschland eine Lücke von 15,6 Prozent. Besonders hoch ist die Betreuungsquote in Hamburg mit 49,3 Prozent, wohingegen sie beim Schlusslicht Bremen mit 31,3 Prozent um mehr als ein Drittel niedriger liegt. Dort besucht auch im Alter von drei Jahren noch mehr als ein Fünftel der Kinder keine Kita, was bei einer vergleichsweise heterogenen Bevölkerung mit Blick auf die Entwicklungs- und Teilhabechancen der Kinder sehr problematisch sein kann. Grundsätzlich sollte in den nächsten Jahren nicht nur darauf hingearbeitet werden, flächendeckend Betreuungsangebote zu machen, die die Bedarfe der Eltern möglichst vollständig decken. Wichtig ist es auch, Kinder mit besonderem Unterstützungsbedarf - insbesondere im Bereich des Erwerbs der deutschen Sprache - frühzeitig in die Kitas zu holen, auch wenn sich die Eltern an sich noch nicht unbedingt eine institutionelle Betreuung für sie wünschen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
In-work poverty and family policy in Italy: from a frozen to a thawing landscape? (2025)
Zitatform
Giuliani, Giovanni Amerigo & Nicola De Luigi (2025): In-work poverty and family policy in Italy: from a frozen to a thawing landscape? In: Community, work & family, Jg. 28, H. 4, S. 558-578. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2023.2282356
Abstract
"The article investigates in-work poverty (IWP) in Italy through the lens of family policies. Adopting a longitudinal perspective, the work scrutinizes whether and to what extent the configuration of family policy tools - family allowances, leave and ECEC (Early Childhood Care and Education) - has been effective in contrasting IWP in Italy. Furthermore, it probes whether the Italian family policy has reconfigured over time as a tool for countering IWP. The study shows that family policy can be useful both directly - by providing income support for the most disadvantaged families - and indirectly - by fostering the transition to a dual-earner family model. However, the analysis of the Italian case shows that such positive effects are only potential, and not automatic. In Italy, historically, family policy has been scarcely effective. Nevertheless, in the last few years a pattern of slow change has initiated, and its effectiveness as a device to tackle IWP appears to have increased." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Paying moms to stay home: Short and long run effects on parents and children (2025)
Zitatform
Gruber, Jonathan, Tuomas Kosonen & Kristiina Huttunen (2025): Paying moms to stay home: Short and long run effects on parents and children. In: Journal of Public Economics, Jg. 251. DOI:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105496
Abstract
"We study the impacts of the Finnish Home Care Allowance (HCA) for mothers who stay at home with children that are under age of three. We use regional and over time variation to show that the HCA decreases maternal employment in both the short and long term. The effects are large enough to explain the relatively high short-term child penalty in Finland. HCA negatively affects the early childhood cognitive test results of children, decreases enrollment in high school, and increases youth crimes. We confirm our results by studying a daycare fee reform that had the opposite effects on mothers and children." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Rentenansprüche von Frauen bleiben mit steigender Kinderzahl deutlich hinter denen von Männern zurück (2025)
Zitatform
Haan, Peter, Michaela Kreyenfeld, Sarah Schmauk & Tatjana Mika (2025): Rentenansprüche von Frauen bleiben mit steigender Kinderzahl deutlich hinter denen von Männern zurück. In: DIW-Wochenbericht, Jg. 92, H. 12, S. 183-189. DOI:10.18723/diw_wb:2025-12-1
Abstract
"Der Gender Pension Gap, der den Unterschied bei den Rentenansprüchen zwischen Männern und Frauen misst, liegt laut Daten der Deutschen Rentenversicherung im Alter von 60 Jahren bei 32 Prozent. Darüber hinaus zeigt sich auch ein deutlicher Unterschied bei den gesetzlichen Rentenansprüchen zwischen Müttern und kinderlosen Frauen (Motherhood Pension Gap). Diesem Gap wirken die im Jahr 1986 eingeführten und seither mehrfach modifizierten Kindererziehungszeiten entgegen. Die Anrechnung von Kindererziehungszeiten reduziert die Unterschiede der Rentenanwartschaften zwischen kinderlosen Frauen und Müttern zwar deutlich, allerdings nur für die Jahre nach der Geburt. Für die Geburtsjahrgänge 1952 bis 1959 liegt der Motherhood Pension Gap im Alter von 60 Jahren in Westdeutschland bei 26 Prozent: Kindererziehungszeiten können den Rentennachteil von Müttern nicht ausgleichen. Weitere sozial- und steuerpolitische Maßnahmen, die eine gleichberechtigte Aufteilung von Sorge- und Erwerbsarbeit fördern, sind notwendig. Neben dem Ausbau der Kinderbetreuung sind Reformen des Ehegattensplittings und der Minijobs sowie ein Umbau der Arbeitswelt erforderlich, der die Bedürfnisse von Sorgetragenden stärker berücksichtigt." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Strukturwandel am Arbeitsmarkt durch die ökologische Transformation - Folgen für Geschlechterverhältnisse auf dem Arbeitsmarkt: Expertise für den Vierten Gleichstellungsbericht der Bundesregierung (2025)
Zitatform
Hohendanner, Christian, Markus Janser & Florian Lehmer (2025): Strukturwandel am Arbeitsmarkt durch die ökologische Transformation - Folgen für Geschlechterverhältnisse auf dem Arbeitsmarkt. Expertise für den Vierten Gleichstellungsbericht der Bundesregierung. Berlin, 94 S.
Abstract
"Die vorliegende Expertise untersucht erstmals quantitativ die strukturellen Veränderungen des Arbeitsmarktes in Deutschland im Hinblick auf geschlechtsbezogene Aspekte, die im Zuge der ökologischen Transformation entstehen. Wir verwenden hierfür einen Tasks-basierten Ansatz zur Identifikation der betroffenen Akteur*innen auf dem Arbeitsmarkt. Dazu werden der Greenness-of-Jobs Index (GOJI) (Janser 2019, 2024), das IAB-Berufepanel (Version 2012-2022, inkl. GOJI) sowie deskriptive Statistiken auf Basis des IAB-Betriebspanels herangezogen. Das IAB-Berufepanel wie die Auswertungen des IAB-Betriebspanels sind auf der Homepage des IAB öffentlich zugänglich und können für weitere Analysen genutzt werden. Zusätzlich werden Maßnahmen diskutiert, die helfen könnten, mögliche Ungleichheiten in der ökologischen Transformation abzufedern und zu überwinden. Ziel der Expertise ist es, den Sachverständigen für den Vierten Gleichstellungsbericht eine fundierte empirische Grundlage zu den Veränderungen auf dem Arbeitsmarkt und deren potenziellen Folgen für Geschlechterverhältnisse durch die ökologische Transformation zu liefern. Die Expertise zeigt auf, inwiefern Frauen und Männer gleichermaßen oder unterschiedlich von den Entwicklungen des Arbeitsmarktes profitieren bzw. betroffen sind. Es wird dargestellt, in welchen Branchen und Berufen sich Tätigkeitsfelder verändert haben und neue Beschäftigungsverhältnisse entstanden bzw. weggefallen sind – jeweils mit besonderem Fokus auf die Unterschiede zwischen Frauen und Männern. Vor dem Hintergrund aller zusammengetragenen Erkenntnisse wird abschließend diskutiert, inwiefern die bisherigen Ergebnisse darauf hindeuten, dass sich geschlechtsbezogene Unterschiede bzw. Ungleichheiten auf dem Arbeitsmarkt in der ökologischen Transformation eher angleichen oder weiter auseinanderentwickeln." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
National Work-Family Policies and Gender Earnings Inequality in 26 OECD Countries, 1999 to 2019 (2025)
Zitatform
Hook, Jennifer L. & Meiying Li (2025): National Work-Family Policies and Gender Earnings Inequality in 26 OECD Countries, 1999 to 2019. In: Socius, Jg. 11, S. 1-21. DOI:10.1177/23780231251360042
Abstract
"The authors investigate whether work-family policies help incorporate women into the labor market, but exacerbate the gender earnings gap and motherhood penalty, especially for mothers and/or tertiary-educated women. The authors use repeated cross-sectional income data from the Luxembourg Income Study database (1999–2019) (n = 26 countries, 280 country-years, 2.9 million employees) combined with an original collection of indicators on work-family policies, labor market conditions, and gender norms. The authors find that only one work-family policy, long paid parental leave (longer than six months), is associated with a larger gender earnings gap for mothers and tertiary-educated women. The negative relationship between long paid leave and women’s earning percentile is not well explained by selection, full-time status, work hours, experience, occupation, or sector, suggesting discrimination mechanisms. These findings add to the growing evidence that long paid leave specifically, as opposed to work-family policies more generally, cleaves the labor market outcomes of women from men." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Paternal Leave Duration and the Closure of the Gendered Family Work Gap (2025)
Zitatform
Lütolf, Meret (2025): Paternal Leave Duration and the Closure of the Gendered Family Work Gap. In: Social Politics, Jg. 32, H. 4, S. 1153-1183. DOI:10.1093/sp/jxaf017
Abstract
"In recent years, as societal norms evolve, active fatherhood has gained prominence as contributing to child well-being and gender equality. Parental leave policies are seen as key support, yet the extent to which paternity leave, and in particular the duration of its effective uptake, and the longer-term objective of gender equality in unpaid work correlate, remains unclear. This article explores the link between paternal leave uptake and subsequent care division among parents, considering country opportunities and individual attitudes. Using new survey data from five countries including a novel 24-hour slider measurement system, the linear regression models reveal a positive correlation between longer paternal leave uptake and a more balanced distribution of unpaid work, that is, a smaller family work gap. The study emphasizes the essential role of parental leave policies in fostering an egalitarian division of labor and enhances the understanding of the interplay between parental leave, caregiving, and gender." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
The Balancing Act of Working Mothers and Caring Fathers: Impact of Family Policy on Egalitarianism in Families in Western Democracies (2025)
Zitatform
Lütolf, Meret (2025): The Balancing Act of Working Mothers and Caring Fathers. Impact of Family Policy on Egalitarianism in Families in Western Democracies. Wiesbaden: Springer VS, 220 S. DOI:10.1007/978-3-658-47716-5
Abstract
"This Open-Access-book explores how egalitarian parental leave policies can support a more balanced division of paid work and caregiving. Introducing a novel analysis grid and a unique dataset, Meret Lütolf examines parental leave policies in five countries – United States, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, and Sweden – revealing how fully paid, non-transferable leave can promote gender-neutral caregiving roles. Key findings highlight the connection between longer paternal leave and a more equal distribution of unpaid work, along with fathers’ willingness to reduce paid work hours in favor of caregiving. By combining multiple research methods, the study links policy intentions with real-life outcomes and identifies feasible reforms, including full wage replacement, that can enhance egalitarianism without raising policy costs. Offering valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and advocates, this book demonstrates how parental leave policies can contribute to more equal family dynamics and address broader gender inequalities in society." (Publisher information, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Income Equality in The Nordic Countries: Myths, Facts, and Lessons (2025)
Zitatform
Mogstad, Magne, Kjell G. Salvanes & Gaute Torsvik (2025): Income Equality in The Nordic Countries: Myths, Facts, and Lessons. (BFI Working Papers / University of Chicago, Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics 2025,25), Chicago, 58 S. DOI:10.2139/ssrn.5133608
Abstract
"Policymakers, public commentators, and researchers often cite the Nordic countries as examples of a social and economic model that successfully combines low income inequality with prosperity and growth. This article aims to critically assess this claim by integrating theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence to illustrate how the Nordic model functions and why these countries experience low inequality. Our analysis suggests that income equality in the Nordics is primarily driven by a significant compression of hourly wages, reducing the returns to labor market skills and education. This appears to be achieved through a wage bargaining system characterized by strong coordination both within and across industries. This finding contrasts with other commonly cited explanations for Nordic income equality, such as redistribution through the tax-transfer system, public spending on goods that complement employment, and public policies aimed at equalizing skills and human capital distribution. We consider the potential lessons for other economies that seek to reduce income equality. We conclude by discussing several underexplored or unresolved questions and issues." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Single and partnered mothers’ labor market consequences of long family leave (2025)
Zitatform
Morosow, Kathrin & Marika Jalovaara (2025): Single and partnered mothers’ labor market consequences of long family leave. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-22. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2025.2535739
Abstract
"This study examines the heterogenous labor market effects of family leave policies for single and partnered mothers. Longer family leave has been shown to weaken women’s labor market positions and some studies have found heterogenous effects across population groups. However, whether the effect differs by partnership status remains unexplored. Using Finnish register data from 1989 to 2014 (ca. 2.5 million person-years) and controlling for selection into single motherhood by comparing estimates from OLS and FE models, this study compares single and partnered mothers’ unemployment and earnings consequent to extended family leaves. In line with predictions that single mothers may face greater work-family reconciliation issues or cumulative disadvantage leading to greater labor market penalties, the results showed that longer leave increases the length of unemployment for single mothers more than for partnered ones. This is not solely because of selection into single motherhood. Earnings penalties after family leave (net of employment status) are the same for single and partnered mothers. We conclude that similar long- lengths of family leave are penalized more among single mothers in terms of employment, which increases and reproduces social inequalities. This means that existing inequalities are reinforced by labor market absences supported by leave policies." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Aspekt auswählen:
Aspekt zurücksetzen
- Erwerbsbeteiligung von Frauen
- Erwerbsbeteiligung von Männern
- Kinderbetreuung und Pflege
- Berufliche Geschlechtersegregation
- Berufsrückkehr – Wiedereinstieg in den Arbeitsmarkt
- Dual-Career-Couples
- Work-Life
- Geschlechtsspezifische Lohnunterschiede
- Familienpolitische Rahmenbedingungen
- Aktive/aktivierende Arbeitsmarktpolitik
- Arbeitslosigkeit und passive Arbeitsmarktpolitik
- geografischer Bezug