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 analyse transitions 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
How Important is Selection into Full-time and Part-time Employment? A New Panel Data Sample Selection Model for Estimating Wage Profiles (2026)
Zitatform
Been, Jim, Marike Knoef & Heike Vethaak (2026): How Important is Selection into Full-time and Part-time Employment? A New Panel Data Sample Selection Model for Estimating Wage Profiles. In: Journal of Business and Economic Statistics, Jg. 44, H. 1, S. 215-226. DOI:10.1080/07350015.2025.2520851
Abstract
"The literature has shown that correcting for self-selection into work is important for the estimation of wage profiles. In this paper, we analyze to what extent intensive labor supply choices add valuable otherwise unobserved information to improve wage profile estimates. We develop a panel data sample selection model that allows for discrete choices in labor supply decisions and apply this to high-quality administrative data. Compared to labor supply decisions at the extensive margin, our new approach is able to control for additional unobserved heterogeneity from intensive labor supply choices with important consequences for the existence and direction of selection into (part-time) work. Applied to the data, we find that such information is especially important for estimating part-time wage profiles for women." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Labor supply responses to tax credit disbursements: Evidence from the EITC schedule (2026)
Bibler, Andrew J.;Zitatform
Bibler, Andrew J. (2026): Labor supply responses to tax credit disbursements: Evidence from the EITC schedule. In: Economic Inquiry, Jg. 64, H. 2, S. 555-573. DOI:10.1111/ecin.70040
Abstract
"The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) schedule and lump-sum disbursement can create significant labor supply responses. I estimate labor supply responses to tax credit disbursements using a regression kink design. Among single workers, credits increase labor supply around the time that tax credits are disbursed at the first and second kinks in the EITC schedule but reduce labor supply on the intensive margin at the third kink. There is some evidence of heterogeneous responses among married women, including an increase in labor supply near the third kink, although findings in the sample of married women appear less robust." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((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
The impact of a parental leave benefit reform on parents' leave-taking, labor supply and childcare arrangements (2026)
Zitatform
Boll, Christina & Till Nikolka (2026): The impact of a parental leave benefit reform on parents' leave-taking, labor supply and childcare arrangements. In: Review of Economics of the Household, S. 1-38. DOI:10.1007/s11150-026-09845-1
Abstract
"We analyze the causal effects of a parental leave benefit reform on parents in Germany. The reform added new features to the existing scheme increasing flexibility for take-up and providing incentives for parents to work part-time during the parental leave phase. We exploit the quasi-experimental allocation of births around the eligibility date to estimate intent-to-treat-effects of the reform on parental leave take-up, parents’ labor market involvement, intra-couple childcare division and institutional childcare demand and uptake. We find that parental leave take-up of college-educated fathers in the treatment group is higher than that in the control group. Furthermore, fathers in the treatment group reduce working hours but we do not observe any significant changes for mothers. However, mothers in the treatment group whose partners have a college degree report that they would like to work more hours when returning to the labor market compared to those in the control group. While we do not find effects on intra-couple childcare division, our analysis reveals higher demand for institutional childcare among parents in the treatment group in case the father holds a college degree. However, higher childcare demand is only reflected by higher uptake among parents with children aged three or older. We suggest that parents’ heterogeneity regarding their work arrangements and gender role orientations as well as constraints in public childcare provision for toddlers might explain our findings." (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
Gender Norms and the Labor Market (2026)
Zitatform
Cortés, Patricia, Jisoo Hwang, Jessica Pan & Uta Schönberg (2026): Gender Norms and the Labor Market. (NBER working paper / National Bureau of Economic Research 34716), Cambridge, Mass, 42 S.
Abstract
"Despite substantial convergence in men's and women's economic roles, gender gaps in labor market outcomes persist across countries. This article provides a unified framework for understanding how gender norms shape economic behavior, distinguishing between internalized norms—preferences and beliefs tied to gender identity—and external norms arising from peer pressure and social coordination. We first document cross-country and within-country variation in gender attitudes, alongside gradual but uneven shifts toward more egalitarian views. We then review empirical evidence on the origins, persistence, and transmission of gender norms, and their effects on human capital accumulation, labor supply, wages, and policy take-up. The review highlights both the durability of gender norms and the mechanisms through which policies, institutions, and media can induce norm change, with implications for the design of effective interventions." (Author'sabstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Beteiligte aus dem IAB
Schönberg, Uta; -
Literaturhinweis
Stratification of post-birth labour supply in a high- and low- maternal employment regime (2026)
Zitatform
Filser, Andreas, Pascal Achard, Corinna Frodermann, Dana Müller & Sander Wagner (2026): Stratification of post-birth labour supply in a high- and low- maternal employment regime. In: Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, Jg. 102, 2026-01-30. DOI:10.1016/j.rssm.2026.101133
Abstract
"This paper compares the magnitude and stratification of motherhood employment penalties in France and Germany, two countries with contrasting institutional orientations towards maternal employment. While prior research has documented cross-national variation in the size of motherhood penalties, less is known about how macro-level contexts shape their stratification across socioeconomic groups. Using harmonized administrative employment data on 18,948 French and 72,632 German mothers, who were employed prior to first birth between 1997 and 2014, we estimate labour market participation trajectories for five years following childbirth. Across both countries, women with higher pre-birth income, higher education, and employment in higher-wage firms experience substantially smaller reductions in labour supply, with income emerging as the strongest stratifying dimension. Motherhood penalties are markedly smaller in France, amounting to less than one-third of the reduction observed in Germany. Yet penalties in France are more strongly stratified: mothers in the lowest income quintile experience participation losses 3.14 times larger than mothers in the highest quintile, compared to a ratio of 1.17 in Germany. Within Germany, East German mothers face smaller but more stratified penalties than West German mothers. Finally, we test whether the macro-level pattern of larger penalties associated with weaker stratification also generalizes to 65 NUTS-2 regions. We find no systematic association between the size and stratification of motherhood penalties at the regional level. The findings suggest that institutional contexts supporting high maternal employment reduce overall penalties but pose particular challenges for mothers from lower socio-economic backgrounds who reintegrate less rapidly into the labour market." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Work disability after motherhood: How paternity leave can help (2026)
Zitatform
Fontenay, Sébastien & Ilan Tojerow (2026): Work disability after motherhood: How paternity leave can help. In: Labour Economics, Jg. 102. DOI:10.1016/j.labeco.2026.102920
Abstract
"We examine how the provision of paternity leave can reduce the time mothers spend on disability insurance after childbirth. Using Belgian administrative data and a Regression Discontinuity Design around a July 2002 reform, we estimate that mothers whose partners became eligible for a statutory paternity leave spent, on average, 13% fewer days on disability over the following twelve years. We provide suggestive evidence that paternity leave affects maternal long-run disability through (1) increased fathers’ involvement in child care,resulting in more child-free time for mothers; and (2) longer waiting time before having a second child." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Do caring fathers earn less? Earnings consequences of fathers’ parental leave use (2026)
Zitatform
Frodermann, Corinna, Ann-Christin Bächmann & Andreas Filser (2026): Do caring fathers earn less? Earnings consequences of fathers’ parental leave use. In: Social forces. DOI:10.1093/sf/soag126
Abstract
"In many Western societies, policy efforts seek to increase fathers’ involvement in parental leave, yet many fathers remain reluctant due to concerns about earnings consequences. Despite these concerns, the consequences of parental leave and their underlying mechanisms remain understudied. Using novel German administrative data on 109,735 married fathers who became first-time parents between 2007 and 2013, we analyze their earnings trajectories following parental leave. The large sample allows for investigating potential differences in earnings trajectories between fathers who took no parental leave and fathers who took leave of different durations. To improve comparability between the different groups of fathers, we apply two-way fixed-effects models weighted by coarsened exact matching. Moreover, the data enables us to consider differences in post-birth work volume as potential confounder for differences in earnings trajectories. We find that fathers who take parental leave experience lower earnings trajectories compared with those without leave. This difference increases with leave duration: 7 years after the birth of their first child, fathers who took up to 2 months of leave see their annual earnings increase 2.2 percentage points less relative to their pre-birth baseline than fathers who took no leave - for those who took longer leave, the gap is 12.8 percentage points. While these gaps initially appear disproportionately larger for longer leave durations, the disparity diminishes once we account for differences in active employment and part-time transitions. Moreover, the differences in work volume explain a large share of the observed earnings gaps, reducing them to 1 and 4.6 percentage points." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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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
Nutzung der Elternzeit durch Mütter und Väter: Ergebnisse einer Auswertung des Mikrozensus 2022 (2026)
Geis-Thöne, Wido;Zitatform
Geis-Thöne, Wido (2026): Nutzung der Elternzeit durch Mütter und Väter: Ergebnisse einer Auswertung des Mikrozensus 2022. (IW-Report / Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft Köln 2026,31), Köln, 27 S. DOI:10.67087/12.21305
Abstract
"Während in den letzten Jahren viel über das Elterngeld diskutiert wurde, fristet die Elternzeit in der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung ein Schattendasein. Dies geht teilweise darauf zurück, dass über ihre Inanspruchnahme sehr wenig bekannt ist. Daher wurden die Mikrodaten des Mikrozensus 2022 zu diesem Thema ausgewertet. Dazu ist anzumerken, dass man für eine Auswertung zur Elternzeit ohne Beschäftigung unterschiedliche Angaben im Mikrozensus nutzen kann, womit man zu sehr ähnlichen, aber nicht deckungsgleichen Ergebnissen kommt. Hingegen erscheint für die ebenfalls mögliche Elternzeit mit gleichzeitiger Teilzeittätigkeit nur ein Auswertungsweg sinnvoll. Wählt man diesen, kommt man zu dem Ergebnis, dass im Jahr 2022 im ersten Lebensjahr des Kindes im Schnitt 58,0 Prozent der Mütter in Elternzeit ohne Beschäftigung und 5,2 Prozent in Elternzeit mit Teilzeitbeschäftigung waren. 11,6 Prozent waren regulär in abhängiger Beschäftigung tätig, 1,8 Prozent selbstständig und 23,4 Prozent (außerhalb der Elternzeit) nicht erwerbstätig. Im zweiten Lebensjahr waren 25,5 Prozent der Mütter in Elternzeit ohne Beschäftigung und 7,4 Prozent in Elternzeit mit Teilzeitbeschäftigung. Im dritten Lebensjahr waren es 9,4 Prozent und 4,0 Prozent. Bei den Vätern lagen die Anteile der Elternzeit ohne Beschäftigung bei 5,3 Prozent und der Elternzeit mit Teilzeitbeschäftigung bei 3,2 Prozent im ersten Lebensjahr des Kindes. Im zweiten Lebensjahr waren es 2,0 Prozent und 2,1 Prozent. Danach befanden sich nur noch sehr wenige Männer in Elternzeit. Allerdings ist zu beachten, dass die Dauer der Elternzeit bei den Männern zumeist weit unter einem Jahr liegt. Geht man von der durchschnittlichen Bezugsdauer des Elterngeldes aus, die bei den Männern mit der Elternzeit meist deckungsgleich sein dürfte, dürfte der Gesamtanteil der Männer, die nach der Geburt der Kinder jemals eine Elternzeit nutzen, in der Größenordnung der Väterbeteiligung am Elterngeld von 46,3 Prozent im Jahr 2022 liegen. Bei den Frauen wäre ein derartiges Vorgehen nicht zielführend, da die Elternzeit die maximale Bezugsdauer des Elterngeldes in vielen Fällen wesentlich überschreiten dürfte. Auch ist darauf hinzuweisen, dass es Eltern gibt, die zwar Elterngeld beziehen, aber keine Elternzeit in Anspruch nehmen können, etwa da sie selbstständig sind. Differenziert man nach dem Bildungsstand der Eltern, zeigen sich deutliche Unterschiede. So nutzen Männer mit Hochschulabschluss mit 7,7 Prozent ohne Beschäftigung und 4,0 Prozent mit Teilzeitbeschäftigung im ersten Lebensjahr des Kindes sowie mit 2,4 Prozent ohne Beschäftigung und 3,7 Prozent mit Teilzeitbeschäftigung im zweiten Lebensjahr des Kindes die Elternzeit im Jahr 2022 weit häufiger als niedriger qualifizierte Väter. Hingegen befanden sich Akademikerinnen im zweiten und dritten Lebensjahr des Kindes deutlich seltener in Elternzeit als die beruflich qualifizierten Frauen. Insgesamt lässt sich feststellen, dass die Inanspruchnahme der Elternzeit von den Lebenslagen der Familien nicht unabhängig ist und weiterführende Forschung in diesem Bereich wichtig wäre, um den institutionellen Rahmen der Elternzeit möglichst zielgerichtet weiterzuentwickeln." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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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
BAföG und Elterngeld: kürzen ja - aber nicht für alle (2026)
Zitatform
Hipp, Lena, Sandra Leumann, Stefan Munnes, Mark Trappmann & Jonas Aljoscha Weik (2026): BAföG und Elterngeld: kürzen ja - aber nicht für alle. In: IAB-Forum H. 17.09.2026, 2026-09-16. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FOO.20260917.01
Abstract
"Die Mehrheit der Bevölkerung steht Kürzungen beim BAföG und beim Elterngeld nicht grundsätzlich ablehnend gegenüber. Sie möchte diese aber auf bestimmte Empfängergruppen begrenzt sehen. In einer Befragung des IAB sprechen sich die meisten dafür aus, das Elterngeld für Personen mit hohem Einkommen oder Vermögen zu kürzen, beim BAföG vor allem für Studierende mit schlechten Leistungen. Vor allem jüngere und ältere Menschen unterscheiden sich deutlich darin, in welchem Ausmaß sie Kürzungen für bestimmte Empfängergruppen befürworten." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Kita-Ausbau und Arbeitsteilung: Mehr Väter in Elternzeit und Teilzeit (2026)
Zitatform
Huebener, Mathias, Malin Mahlbacher & Sophia Schmitz (2026): Kita-Ausbau und Arbeitsteilung: Mehr Väter in Elternzeit und Teilzeit. In: BIB.aktuell H. 6, S. 4-8.
Abstract
"Mit der Geburt eines Kindes verändert sich die Arbeitsteilung in Paarhaushalten oftmals: Mütter reduzieren ihre Erwerbstätigkeit in der Regel deutlich, um den Großteil der Kinderbetreuung zu übernehmen, während Väter ihren Erwerbsumfang meist weitgehend beibehalten. Familienpolitische Maßnahmen wie das Elterngeld und der Rechtsanspruch auf einen Kita-Platz ab dem zweiten Lebensjahr zielen darauf ab, Mütter bei der Rückkehr in den Arbeitsmarkt zu unterstützen und eine partnerschaftliche Aufteilung der Sorgearbeit zu fördern. Der vorliegende Beitrag zeigt, dass der Kita-Ausbau für unter Dreijährige nicht nur die Erwerbstätigkeit von Müttern erhöht, sondern auch das Erwerbsverhalten von Vätern verändert: Väter nehmen häufiger Elternzeit und reduzieren im Anschluss ihre Vollzeittätigkeit zugunsten langer Teilzeit. Änderungen in der grundsätzlichen Aufteilung der Sorgearbeit von Eltern sind bisher noch nicht festzustellen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Caring Dads? Universal Childcare, Paternity Leave, and Fathers’ Labor Supply (2026)
Zitatform
Huebener, Mathias, Malin Mahlbacher & Sophia Schmitz (2026): Caring Dads? Universal Childcare, Paternity Leave, and Fathers’ Labor Supply. (IZA discussion paper / IZA Network @ LISER 18696), Bonn: IZA Network @ LISER, 62 S.
Abstract
"We study how expansions of publicly subsidized childcare affect the intra-household allocation of labor supply in early childhood, with a particular focus on fathers. Exploiting variation in the roll-out of childcare places for children under three across German counties, we show that increased availability accelerates childcare entry and maternal return to work. Fathers also adjust their labor supply: they take more parental leave and subsequently reduce full-time work, yet without significantly increasing weekday caregiving. These findings imply that childcare policies can reshape labor supply within households, leading to smaller aggregate labor supply effects than suggested by maternal responses alone." (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
Faktorverfahren statt Steuerklassen III und V: Verbesserte Arbeitsanreize ohne Liquiditätsentzug (2026)
Zitatform
Koch, Leonie, Andreas Peichl, Nadine Riedel & Ida Zinke (2026): Faktorverfahren statt Steuerklassen III und V: Verbesserte Arbeitsanreize ohne Liquiditätsentzug. In: Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Jg. 27, H. 2, S. 194-208. DOI:10.1515/pwp-2026-0002
Abstract
"Die Politik sucht nach Antworten auf den Fach- und Arbeitskräftemangel in der deutschen Wirtschaft – und hat dafür vor allem Steueranreizinstrumente imBlick. Leonie Koch, Andreas Peichl, Nadine Riedel und Ida Zinke wenden dagegen ein, dass es fiskalisch günstiger sei und Komplexitätsaufbau vermeide, Beschäftigungshemmnisse innerhalb des bestehenden Steuersystems abzubauen. Ein relevantes Hindernis sei der Lohnsteuervorabzug der Steuerklassen III/V: Zweitverdienende unterliegen hier hohen Grenz- und Durchschnittssteuerbelastungen. Ein verpflichtender Wechsel in die individuelle Lohnbesteuerung (Steuerklasse IV) würde die Steuerbelastung Zweitverdienender senken, ginge allerdings – wie in diesem Beitrag empirisch dokumentiert – mit relevanten unterjährigen Liquiditätseinbußen einher, gerade für Haushalte in der Mitte und am unteren Ende der Einkommensverteilung. Das spreche dafür, die optionale Berücksichtigung des Splittingsvorteils im Lohnsteuervorabzug zu erhalten. Ein automatisiertes Faktorverfahren, das am Vorjahreseinkommen anknüpft, sei hierbei vorteilhafter als eine Abbildung des Splittingvorteils über die Steuerklassen III/V: Die Steuerbelastung von Zweitverdienenden sei geringer und der Splittingvorteil werde selbst bei Einkommensschwankungen genauer approximiert." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Employment Conditions in the Paid Care Economy in Egypt:: Improvement or Deterioration? (2026)
Zitatform
Krafft, Caroline & Maye Ehab (2026): Employment Conditions in the Paid Care Economy in Egypt:: Improvement or Deterioration? In: Journal for labour market research, Jg. 60, H. 1, 2026-03-14. DOI:10.1186/s12651-026-00426-4
Abstract
"This paper examines the evolution of the paid care economy in Egypt, over 2009-21, assessing trends in employment and employment conditions. The analyses demonstrate that, despite goals to grow the paid care economy, paid care employment has shrunk over time in Egypt, driven by the retreat of the public sector. Furthermore, employment conditions in care employment have worsened over time, in part due to the increasing privatization of care employment. The informal share of care employment (without social insurance coverage) has increased over time. While initially there was not a care pay gap, one has formed over time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Wer Reformen will, muss Kitas bauen: Warum Reformen von Ehegattensplitting und Co. durch Betreuungsinvestitionen flankiert werden sollten (2026)
Merki, Hanna; Gottschalk, Saskia; Schuster, Florian;Zitatform
Merki, Hanna, Florian Schuster & Saskia Gottschalk (2026): Wer Reformen will, muss Kitas bauen: Warum Reformen von Ehegattensplitting und Co. durch Betreuungsinvestitionen flankiert werden sollten. (Research report / Dezernat Zukunft - Institut für Makrofinanzen 341180), Berlin, 12 S.
Abstract
"Die Bundesregierung plant Reformen, um Erwerbsanreize zu stärken und Menschen zu mehr Arbeit zu bewegen. In Rede stehen etwa Änderungen beim Ehegattensplitting, bei der beitragsfreien Mitversicherung und den Transferentzugsraten im Sozialleistungssystem. Wir zeigen in diesem Papier, dass ein einseitiger Fokus auf Erwerbsanreize nicht ausreicht. Einer der häufigsten Gründe für geringe Erwerbstätigkeit ist der Mangel an Betreuungsangeboten. Reformen können ihre volle Wirkung nur entfalten, wenn sie durch den Ausbau von Kitas und Ganztag flankiert werden. Beim Ehegattensplitting und der Mitversicherung ist ca. ein Drittel des zu gewinnenden Erwerbspotenzials nur erreichbar, wenn zeitgleich Betreuungskapazitäten geschaffen werden. Die Haushalte von Bund, Ländern, Kommunen und Sozialversicherungen könnten durch ein kombiniertes Programm aus Arbeitsmarktreformen und Betreuungsausbau pro Jahr spürbar um ca. 16 Milliarden Euro entlastet werden." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
More than just work: The effect of the Earned Income Tax Credit on job quality (2026)
Zitatform
Michelmore, Katherine & Natasha Pilkauskas (2026): More than just work: The effect of the Earned Income Tax Credit on job quality. In: Labour Economics, Jg. 99. DOI:10.1016/j.labeco.2026.102867
Abstract
"Using a simulated benefits approach and data from the Current Population Survey we examine how expansions to the EITC affected the job quality of unmarried mothers in the U.S. Following expansions to the EITC, we find increases in employment, wages, and fringe benefits such as employer-provided health insurance and retirement plans among unmarried mothers, all indicators of improvements in job quality. On the other hand, we also find evidence that the EITC increases overwork, or working >45 h per week, a negative indicator of job quality. Though mothers are not moved into high-quality professional jobs, they are more likely to work in manual labour and transportation occupations, which are middle-income jobs, and these mothers are also more likely to have a unionized job, which is correlated with other positive job quality measures. Overall, the findings paint a nuanced picture of how the EITC affects job quality among unmarried mothers, with many indicators of improvements in job quality, alongside a few indicators of declines in job quality." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Explaining gendered informality: how family policies shape women's participation in unregistered employment in Europe (2026)
Zitatform
Mäkinen, Niklas (2026): Explaining gendered informality: how family policies shape women's participation in unregistered employment in Europe. In: The international journal of sociology and social policy, Jg. 46, H. 13-14, S. 125-141. DOI:10.1108/ijssp-06-2025-0378
Abstract
"Purpose: Family policies aimed at reconciling the pressures of family and work shape women's employment outcomes. Yet, very few studies have examined their impact on employment that is not formally registered with authorities. The study aims to investigate whether, and to what extent, different family policies influence women's participation in unregistered employment. Design/methodology/approach: The study used individual data from the 2004–2022 European Social Survey, combined with information on country-level indicators of family policies. Multi-level linear probability models were applied to analyse data. Findings: Findings suggest that family policy arrangements that reinforce traditional gender norms and limit women’s economic opportunities contribute to gender disparities in unregistered employment. In countries with higher part-time childcare coverage or shorter leaves, women were found to be more likely to take up unregistered jobs, most likely to balance paid work with caregiving responsibilities and/or to make ends meet. Given that unregistered employment is associated with poor working conditions and limited social protection, such policies may deepen the existing gender inequality in the labour market. In countries where women have more economic independence and fewer care obligations, the gender gap in unregistered employment was smaller. Originality/value: This study addresses a critical gap in the literature by demonstrating that certain family policies may increase women's dependency on informal income sources." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Emerald Group) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
How Public Investments in Childcare Mitigate Childbirth Effects on Employment Transitions by Skill Level in Europe: Special Issue: Bringing the Ecological and the Social Together in the Green Transition: A Multilevel Analysis (2026)
Zitatform
Plavgo, Ilze (2026): How Public Investments in Childcare Mitigate Childbirth Effects on Employment Transitions by Skill Level in Europe. Special Issue: Bringing the Ecological and the Social Together in the Green Transition: A Multilevel Analysis. In: Regulation and governance, Jg. 20, H. 2, S. 635-651. DOI:10.1111/rego.70116
Abstract
"Public investments in childcare generally improve parents' employment chances, yet evidence on their magnitude, cross-national variation, and social distribution remains mixed. This study examines how public spending on early childhood education and care (ECEC) moderates post-childbirth employment attachment across Europe. Using longitudinal EU-SILC microdata for 26 countries (2003–2020) combined with social policy indicators, multilevel mixed-effects models trace within-person employment changes before and 2 years after childbirth by gender, skill level, and country context. Results show that childbirth substantially reduces women's employment probabilities, but higher public ECEC investment mitigates this decline by supporting re-entry into employment. At above-average spending levels, employment returns to pre-childbirth levels within 2 years, whereas recovery remains limited where ECEC investments are lower. The pattern holds across skill groups and welfare regimes, except in the Nordic countries, where low-skilled mothers benefit more. Findings underscore the role of ECEC investment in sustaining labor force participation in Europe." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Full-time employment is all that matters? Quantifying the role of relevant and gender-exclusive life-course experiences for gender pension gaps (2026)
Zitatform
Rowold, Carla (2026): Full-time employment is all that matters? Quantifying the role of relevant and gender-exclusive life-course experiences for gender pension gaps. In: Social forces, Jg. 104, H. 4, S. 1337-1362. DOI:10.1093/sf/soaf143
Abstract
"Gender pension gaps (GPGs) represent crucial indicators of gender inequalities over the life course. Despite reaching higher levels, they have received less attention than other gender inequalities, such as gender wage gaps. More generally, research typically focuses on selected sets of life course summary measures, predominantly the employment duration, to explain gender inequalities across the life course. This oversimplifies gender-specific life courses in particular. Taking a life-course perspective and using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe for the Netherlands and West Germany, I propose an innovative combination of machine learning, sequence analysis, and decomposition techniques, allowing for a new perspective on gender inequalities over the life course. The study disentangles which specific life-course elements are most relevant for pension inequalities and quantifies the role of gender-exclusive life-course experiences for gender disparities. I find that the duration, timing, order of life-course events, and overall life-course complexity matter for pension income inequalities in both pension systems. Specifically, the duration, timing, and order of care work experiences are more crucial pension predictors than the employment duration, which has been the primary focus of previous research. This holds for the GPGs: the largest shares are attributable to gender-exclusive life-course experiences because of the lack of a male counterpart for female engagement in care work, which is poorly rewarded in pension systems. Future research and policymakers will benefit from considering such gender-specific combinations of life-course experiences for the gender pension gap and other inequalities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Universal Daycare and Mothers’ Working Lifetime (2026)
Zitatform
Sander, Sarah (2026): Universal Daycare and Mothers’ Working Lifetime. In: The Economic Journal. DOI:10.1093/ej/ueag031
Abstract
"This paper examines the effects of universal daycare on mothers’ labour force participation, hours worked, full-time employment, and earnings over their working lives. I exploit variation in access created by the roll-out of daycare centres across Denmark, combined with rich administrative data. Daycare availability positively affects participation (2.3%), hours worked (3.1%), and earnings (3.7%) 16 years after the first child. Secondary fertility choices and parental separation appear to mediate these effects. The effects on labour market outcomes are driven by low-educated mothers, suggesting that lack of subsidised childcare is a larger employment barrier for low-educated mothers." (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
Mapping the Determinants of Female Employment: Labour Market Areas and Spatial Spillovers (2026)
Zitatform
Simón-Albert, Raquel, Matías Mayor, José M. Casado-Díaz & Hipólito Simón (2026): Mapping the Determinants of Female Employment: Labour Market Areas and Spatial Spillovers. In: Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, Jg. 117, H. 2, S. 250-270. DOI:10.1111/tesg.70057
Abstract
"This paper examines the territorial determinants of female employment rates using labour market areas (LMAs) – functional units based on commuting patterns – to mitigate the Modifiable AreaUnit Problem (MAUP). Drawing on detailed Spanish census microdata and spatial econometrics, we find that male unemployment negatively affects female employment through a discouraged worker effect , whereas higher shares of part-time jobs, medium household income, and a greater proportion of immigrant women from emerging countries are associated with better female employment outcomes. Certain aspects of local economic structure, particularly a larger service sector, positively influence women’s employment. Comparing spatial and non-spatial specifications shows only modest gains, consistent with limited cross-area spillovers when the analysis relies on functionally defined units. Overall, the evidence supports LMAs as appropriate territorial units and highlights the importance of care-related and income-based interventions, together with efforts to broaden sectoral opportunities for women and to improve data availability at the functional-area level." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
The European Parenting Leave Policies (EPLP) dataset: Leave duration entitlements for 21 countries from 1970 to 2024 (2026)
Spitzer, Sonja ; Tuda, Dora; Pall, Katre; Kurowska, Anna ; Lemoine, Adèle; Reiter, Claudia ; Song, Zhanxiong; Vargha, Lili ; Wrohlich, Katharina ; Wagner, Sander ; Kristiansen, Ida Lykke ; Thil, Laurène; Herlitz, Agneta; Hart, Rannveig Kaldager ; Romero Balsas, Pedro; Juárez, Sol Pía; Räsänen, Tapio ; Honkaniemi, Helena; Pertold-Gebicka, Barbara ; Hatzivarnava-Kazassi, Evi; Vignoli, Daniele ; González, Libertad ; Rentzou, Konstantina; Galdauskaitė, Dovilė; Greulich, Angela ; Dančíková, Zuzana; Rakar, Tatjana; Brini, Elisa ; Schmidt, Eva-Maria ; Bártová, Alžběta;Zitatform
Spitzer, Sonja, Adèle Lemoine, Zhanxiong Song, Claudia Reiter, Angela Greulich, Agneta Herlitz, Alžběta Bártová, Elisa Brini, Zuzana Dančíková, Dovilė Galdauskaitė, Libertad González, Evi Hatzivarnava-Kazassi, Helena Honkaniemi, Sol Pía Juárez, Rannveig Kaldager Hart, Ida Lykke Kristiansen, Anna Kurowska, Katre Pall, Barbara Pertold-Gebicka, Tatjana Rakar, Tapio Räsänen, Konstantina Rentzou, Pedro Romero Balsas, Eva-Maria Schmidt, Laurène Thil, Dora Tuda, Lili Vargha, Katharina Wrohlich, Sander Wagner & Daniele Vignoli (2026): The European Parenting Leave Policies (EPLP) dataset: Leave duration entitlements for 21 countries from 1970 to 2024. In: Demographic Research, Jg. 54, S. 987-1008. DOI:10.4054/demres.2026.54.31
Abstract
"Background: Parenting leave policies shape how caregiving and paid work can be reconciled around the time of childbirth. They have important implications for fertility, employment, and gender equality. Still, there are limited quantitative cross-country data capturing long-term policy changes that impact how long parents can temporarily be away from work to care for their children, and how leave can be shared between them. Objective: The European Parenting Leave Policies (EPLP) Dataset provides harmonised regulations on maternity, co-parent, paid parental, and job-protected leave across 21 European countries from 1970 to 2024. It focuses on policies that shape how long birth mothers and their co-parents can take leave. Methods: Statutory leave entitlements were compiled from national legal sources, official government publications, and secondary literature. We followed a consistent set of data collection rules to enable comparison across countries and over time. Because the dataset focuses on time away from the job, it considers only rights for employed parents. It includes 33 variables and also documents country-specific reform timelines. Contribution: The EPLP Dataset fills a gap in existing data sources by providing quantitative data across 55 years on policies that shape how long parents stay at home around birth and how leave is shared between them. In addition to leave duration and benefits, it covers recent policy instruments such as incentives for parents to share leave, and timing and flexibility of leave use. The dataset enables cross-national comparisons and the analysis of changes over time, and can be used to study the effects of policy reforms." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Max-Planck-Institut für demographische Forschung) ((en))
Weiterführende Informationen
The European Parenting Leave Policies (EPLP) Dataset -
Literaturhinweis
Ceilings: Gender Inequality in Hours, Earnings and Health (2026)
Strazdins, Lyndall ; Doan, Tinh ; Leach, Liana ; Pollmann-Schult, Matthias ; Kaiser, Till ; Li, Jianghong ;Zitatform
Strazdins, Lyndall, Tinh Doan, Liana Leach, Jianghong Li, Matthias Pollmann-Schult & Till Kaiser (2026): Ceilings: Gender Inequality in Hours, Earnings and Health. In: Social indicators research, Jg. 182. DOI:10.1007/s11205-026-03820-0
Abstract
"One reason gender earning gaps persist is that well-paid jobs presume long work hours, and these are incompatible with family care. Long hours also harm health, and the risks may increase for workers with care and domestic workloads, adding a gendered health penalty. Using representative, longitudinal data from Australia and Germany (144,430–153,659 observations for HILDA and SOEP surveys, respectively, 2002–2022), we model the interconnections between hours and health among men and women aged 25–64 years. Our models include hours spent on care and domestic work, to estimate the points at which working more gains earnings but incurs risks for health and how this may differ by gender. The results show that average health ceilings mirror standard work hours (38 to 43 h per week) in both countries, but this masks wide gender differences. Gender stratified models reveal that long work hours are relatively less harmful for men compared to women, and as work hours lengthen, the penalty to women’s physical and mental health increases. We further show how these differential health harms are linked to extra time spent on family care and domestic work. Our study extends theory on how gender inequality is maintained in organisations and in the labour market, and the need for policy action to limit long work hours." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Parental leave quotas and workplace spillovers (2026)
Tallås Alhzén, Malin;Zitatform
Tallås Alhzén, Malin (2026): Parental leave quotas and workplace spillovers. (Working papers / Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy 2026,05), Uppsala, 52 S.
Abstract
"This paper studies how parental leave quotas may foster a more gender-equal division of parental responsibilities by increasing fathers' uptake of leave beyond the reserved amount. Specifically, the paper examines whether the introduction and expansion of 30-days parental leave quotas in Sweden generated spillover effects on male coworkers' leave-taking behavior. Using rich population register data and a regression discontinuity design, I find no evidence that the first quota introduced in 1995 affected male coworkers' uptake of parental leave. In contrast, the 2002 expansion of the quota led to a statistically significant increase of almost nine additional days of parental leave taken by male coworkers. The increase primarily occurred early in the child's life. As such, the increased uptake can be expected to contribute to a more equal division of parental responsibilities also in the long run. The absence of spillovers following the initial reform is consistent with the first quota being more distorting in nature and offering limited information about longer parental leave spells. The findings underscore the importance of societal context and policy design in shaping behavioral responses to parental leave reforms." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Parental Leave Benefits and Gender Inequality: Evidence from a Benefits Cap for High-Earning Mothers (2026)
Zitatform
Waights, Sevrin (2026): Parental Leave Benefits and Gender Inequality: Evidence from a Benefits Cap for High-Earning Mothers. In: The Economic Journal, Jg. 136, H. 675, S. 965-996. DOI:10.1093/ej/ueaf078
Abstract
"I use the universe of tax returns in Germany and a regression kink design to estimate the impacts of mothers’ parental leave benefit amounts on couple earnings inequality. I make use of a benefits cap to estimate the causal impacts for high-earning women; a group for which earnings inequality is particularly large. A lower mothers’ benefit amount results in a reduced gender gap in earnings that persists beyond the benefit period for at least nine years after the birth. The longer-term impacts are driven by couples where the mother earned more than her partner pre-birth. Simulations suggest that a 10% reduction in the benefit amount could reduce long-run child penalties in sample couples from 63 to 46%." (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
Kindergarten and Career Comebacks for Mothers: Is Access to Public School Enough? (2026)
Zitatform
Wikle, Jocelyn & Riley Wilson (2026): Kindergarten and Career Comebacks for Mothers: Is Access to Public School Enough? (CESifo working paper 12727), München, 27 S., App.
Abstract
"Over the last 70 years, there has been a dramatic increase in female labor supply. However, gender gaps in employment trajectories remain, in part because the role of childrearing has largely fallen upon women. Providing more publicly funded childcare could relax these constraints, which may have ramifications for mothers' labor supply decisions over time. We examine the dynamic effects of gaining childcare access earlier on mothers' labor supply. Using a regression discontinuity in kindergarten eligibility cutoffs for nearly 7.5 million U.S. mothers, we estimate how gaining access to childcare, through public school, one year earlier affects maternal employment over time. Enrolling a child in school one year earlier increases annual maternal employment by 2.2 percentage points, and the effect persists for two years, even though children born after the eligibility cutoff gain similar access the next year. However, employment effects eventually fade out, highlighting the limited role publicly-provided childcare plays in closing long-term gender gaps. We show that mothers take on additional family management responsibilities after childbirth, and these responsibilities are not relaxed by gaining childcare access. Moving childcare access earlier will not necessarily close gender gaps in employment as mothers still face these additional constraints." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Impact of subsidized childcare on maternal employment: A comparative study on native and migrant women in Germany (2026)
Zitatform
Yurdakul, Aslıhan & İbrahim Engin Kılıç (2026): Impact of subsidized childcare on maternal employment: A comparative study on native and migrant women in Germany. In: Social science research, Jg. 139. DOI:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2026.103402
Abstract
"This study explores the impact of subsidized childcare on maternal employment, focusing on the heterogeneous effects of Germany's Childcare Funding Act (2013) on native and first- and second-generation migrant mothers. Despite lower childcare use and higher unemployment rates among migrant women, research on this topic has been limited. Using the SOEP dataset from 2010 to 2019 and a triple difference approach, we find that subsidized childcare significantly increases maternal employment, particularly for mothers with children aged 2, with lasting effects. However, migrant women's policy responses remain lower than that of natives and no significant differences are observed between the first- and second-generation mothers. Our findings, hence, provide insights for policymaking which targets labour market integration of migrant women." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.) ((en))
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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. We exploit 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, Jg. 47, H. 1, S. 160-178. 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
Bericht der Bundesregierung zum Bundesgleichstellungsgesetz für den Berichtzeitraum 2021 bis 2024 (2026)
Zitatform
(2026): Bericht der Bundesregierung zum Bundesgleichstellungsgesetz für den Berichtzeitraum 2021 bis 2024. (Verhandlungen des Deutschen Bundestages. Drucksachen 21/3900 (29.01.2026)), Berlin, 192 S.
Abstract
"Der vorliegende Bericht der Bundesregierung knüpft an die letzte Berichtslegung durch das Evaluationsgutachten über die Wirksamkeit des Gesetzes für die gleichberechtigte Teilhabe von Frauen und Männern an Führungspositionen in der Privatwirtschaft und im öffentlichen Dienst sowie über den Erfüllungsaufwand (Bundestagsdrucksache 19/24615) vom 19. November 2020 an. Für den Berichtszeitraum 2021 bis 2024 hat die Bundesregierung erneut wissenschaftliche Unterstützung in Anspruch genommen. Die Umsetzung des Bundesgleichstellungsgesetzes konnte nicht nur auf der Grundlage der nach § 38 Absatz 1 und 2 BGleiG erfassten Daten (§ 39 Absatz 2 BGleiG), sondern auch auf der Grundlage der breit angelegten, anonymen Onlinebefragung der Gleichstellungsbeauftragten, ihrer Stellvertreterinnen sowie Beschäftigten der Personalverwaltungen der Dienststellen evaluiert werden. Dadurch war es möglich, tiefere Einblicke in die Anwendung des BGleiG zu erhalten und die Entwicklung anhand der statistischen Daten besser nachzuvollziehen." (Textauszug, Dokumentations- und Informationssystem Bundestag und Bundesrat - DIP)
Weiterführende Informationen
Dokumentation des zugehörigen parlamentarischen Vorgangs -
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
Dependent insurance coverage and parental job lock: Evidence from the Affordable Care Act (2025)
Bae, Hannah; Meckel, Katherine; Shi, Maggie;Zitatform
Bae, Hannah, Katherine Meckel & Maggie Shi (2025): Dependent insurance coverage and parental job lock: Evidence from the Affordable Care Act. In: Journal of Public Economics, Jg. 248. DOI:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105439
Abstract
"Coverage for dependents is a standard feature of employer-sponsored insurance. While prior work shows that employees trade off job mobility for their own coverage, less is known about the intra-family spillovers of dependent coverage on parental labor supply. We study this question using a large panel of employer-based insurance claims that links dependent enrollment to a proxy for parental job retention. We use a regression discontinuity design that exploits a sharp change in the duration of dependent eligibility by birth month under the Affordable Care Act. We find that additional dependent insurance eligibility increases both dependent take-up and parental job retention. This “job lock” effect is strongest among parents more likely to be on the margin of a job exit, for families that place higher value on dependent coverage, and employees of firms offering a broader range of insurance options." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 The Author(s).Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((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, © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((en))
Ähnliche Treffer
- frühere (möglicherweise abweichende) Version erschienen u.d.T. "Reducing the Child Penalty by Incentivizing Part-Time Work? : Evidence from a Paid Parental Leave Reform in Germany" in: Verein für Socialpolitik (Hrsg.) (2023): Growth and the "sociale Frage". Beiträge zur Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik 2023
- frühere (möglicherweise abweichende) Version erschienen als: IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit, 17109
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Literaturhinweis
Household chores, taxes, and the labor-supply elasticities of women and men (2025)
Zitatform
Bahn, Dorothée, Christian Bredemeier & Falko Juessen (2025): Household chores, taxes, and the labor-supply elasticities of women and men. (Ruhr economic papers 1177), Essen, 46 S. DOI:10.4419/96973362
Abstract
"We study how the division of household chores and individual preferences contribute to gender differences in labor supply elasticities and examine the implications for optimal taxation. In a model of labor supply in dual-earner households, we show that elasticities and optimal income tax rates depend jointly on gender and the within-household allocation of chores. Using PSID data, we find that chore division substantially affects labor supply elasticities, whereas gender per se plays a smaller role. We then evaluate how well simple, feasible tax rules can approximate the optimal within-household tax structure. Gender-based taxation captures a sizable share of the potential efficiency gains, but gender-neutral rules with realistic levels of progressivity perform better." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((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
Withheld from Working More? Withholding Taxes and the Labor Supply of Married Women (2025)
Bayer, Tim; Wegmann, Jakob; Simon, Lenard;Zitatform
Bayer, Tim, Lenard Simon & Jakob Wegmann (2025): Withheld from Working More? Withholding Taxes and the Labor Supply of Married Women. (CRC TR 224 discussion paper series / EPoS Collaborative Research Center Transregio 224 631), Bonn, 83 S.
Abstract
"To collect income taxes, almost all countries require employers to withhold monthly tax prepayments which are then fully credited against the income tax liabilities of their employees. Despite being a fundamental component of income taxation systems worldwide, the impact of these withholding taxes on labor supply is poorly understood. We investigate their importance in the context of married couples in Germany where the withholding tax liability can be redistributed between spouses. We exploit a reform that reduced the withholding tax for some married women more than for others, while inducing no differences in income taxes. Using administrative data for the full population of German taxpayers, we estimate an elasticity of labor income with respect to the withholding tax eight years after the reform of 0.14. Additional evidence from a self-conducted survey suggests imperfect understanding of the tax system and limited pooling of resources within the household as the main mechanisms. As the majority of couples shift parts of the withholding tax liability from the husband to the wife, our results suggest that the increased withholding tax liability of married women contributes to their low labor supply. This highlights the need for governments to be aware of the distortion of labor supply incentives when the design of withholding taxes does not match actual income tax incentives." (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))
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