Zitatform

(2025): Zur Einführung des Elterngeldes und zur Einkommenssituation der Begünstigten. (Sachstand / Deutscher Bundestag, Wissenschaftliche Dienste), Berlin, 18 S.

Abstract

"Im Jahr 2007 wurde das Elterngeld eingeführt, um das pauschale Erziehungsgeld durch eine einkommensabhängige Leistung zu ersetzen. Als Lohnersatzleistung soll das Elterngeld finanzielle Einbußen nach der Geburt eines Kindes kompensieren. Zugleich soll es Anreize für eine partnerschaftlichere Aufteilung von Erwerbs- und Sorgearbeit schaffen. Im Vergleich zum früheren Erziehungsgeld, das vorrangig als Sozialleistung konzipiert war, richtet sich das Elterngeld an alle Mütter und Väter, so auch an Erwerbstätige mit höheren Einkommen, und sichert diese ökonomisch in der Phase der Familiengründung ab. Das Elterngeld stellt mit 7,99 Milliarden Euro im Haushalt 2024 den größten Einzelposten der gesetzlichen Leistungen für Familien dar (insgesamt 12,45 Milliarden Euro). In der öffentlichen Debatte ist das Elterngeld vor kurzem grundsätzlich kritisiert worden. So stellte der Ifo-Präsident Clemens Fuest angesichts angespannter Haushaltslagen in einem Interview die fiskalische Tragfähigkeit und Wirksamkeit des Elterngeldes grundsätzlich infrage. Diese Aussage rief Widerspruch hervor: Befürworter betonen vor allem die gleichstellungspolitische Bedeutung der Leistung sowie die Förderung der Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf. Die Befürworter kritisieren allerdings die bisher ausgebliebene Erhöhung des Elterngeldes. Seit seiner Einführung hat es keine finanziellen Anpassungen – insbesondere keinen inflationären Ausgleich – erfahren. So zeigt eine Studie des Instituts der deutschen Wirtschaft aus dem Jahr 2024 einen realen Kaufkraftverlust des Elterngeldes von rund 38 Prozent seit 2007 auf. Der vorliegende Sachstand befasst sich auftragsgemäß mit den Hintergründen zur Einführung des Elterngeldes und gibt einen Überblick über den aktuellen Stand der Forschung zu den Auswirkungen des Elterngeldes mit Blick auf die Veränderungen der Einkommenssituation der Begünstigten. Darüber hinaus werden auch die neusten Analysen zum fehlenden Inflationsausgleich dargestellt." (Textauszug; IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

(2025): Gender Equality in a Changing World. Taking Stock and Moving Forward. (Gender Equality at Work), Paris: OECD Publishing, 311 S. DOI:10.1787/e808086f-en

Abstract

"Despite significant progress over the last century, women still fare worse than men in most economic, social and political outcomes in EU and OECD countries. Drawing on novel data and using a lifecycle approach, this report presents a comprehensive stocktaking of how women, men, girls and boys are faring across seven key policy areas – education and skills, paid and unpaid work, leadership and representation, health, gender-based violence, the green transition and the digital transitions. The challenges are significant. Recognising that closing gender gaps requires serious and co-ordinated policy commitments and actions, this report presents countries’ good practices in gender mainstreaming, encourages breaking down silos, and identifies useful policy combinations to advance gender equality. A conceptual framework is included for governments seeking to assess their own legal, policy and budgetary measures, to help countries transform gender equality commitments into action." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

(2025): Gender Equality Index 2024: Sustaining momentum on a fragile path. (Gender equality index ...), Vilnius, 118 S. DOI:10.2839/9523460

Abstract

"Since 2010, the Gender Equality Index has set a benchmark for equality between women and men to guide decision-makers on policies and goals for a more balanced and inclusive society across the EU by highlighting what is working and where, and what is not working. Chapter 1 presents the results of the Gender Equality Index 2024, along with key trends since the 2023 edition and between 2010 and 2022. A convergence analysis reveals diverse progress patterns at the national level while providing a broader context for Index findings. Chapters 2–8 summarise the policy context, the EU and country scores in key Index domains and how these scores link to violence against women. An intersectional approach exposes different layers of inequality across domains." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

(2025): Gleichstellung in der sozial-ökologischen Transformation. Gutachten für den Vierten Gleichstellungsbericht der Bundesregierung. (Verhandlungen des Deutschen Bundestages. Drucksachen 20/15105 Vierter), Berlin, 259 S.

Abstract

"Der Vierte Gleichstellungsbericht widmet sich dem Klimawandel und Klimapolitiken in Deutschland unter dem Aspekt der Geschlechtergerechtigkeit. Die Sachverständigen waren beauftragt Ursachen und Auswirkungen des Klimawandels sowie Auswirkungen umwelt- und klimapolitischer Maßnahmen auf die Geschlechterverhältnisse darzustellen, Empfehlungen zur gleichstellungsorientierten Gestaltung der ökologischen Transformation zu erarbeiten, und Empfehlungen zu Strukturen, Instrumenten und institutionellen Mechanismen für eine an Art. 3 Abs. 2 und 3 Grundgesetz orientierte Gleichstellungs-, Umwelt- und Klimapolitik zu entwickeln. Die von Bundesgleichstellungsministerin Lisa Paus im März 2023 berufene Sachverständigenkommission übergab ihr Gutachten Anfang Januar 2025 an die Ministerin. Dieses wurde Anfang März 2025 veröffentlicht. Am 12. März 2025 beschloss das Bundeskabinett die Stellungnahme der Bundesregierung zum Vierten Gleichstellungsbericht, die zusammen mit dem Gutachten als Gleichstellungsbericht veröffentlicht wurde (Bundestags-Drucksache 20/15105). Der Bericht wurde anschließend dem Bundestag und dem Bundesrat vorgelegt." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Abstract

"Wer Fachkräfte sucht, kann auf Frauen nicht verzichten. Das ist klar. Doch die Ergebnisse der Sonderauswertung des DGB-Index Gute Arbeit machen deutlich, dass die Steigerung der Frauenerwerbstätigkeit kein Selbstläufer ist. Ob Frauen dem Arbeitsmarkt zur Verfügung stehen und einer existenzsichernden Beschäftigung nachgehen können, hängt weniger von individuellen Entscheidungen ab. Vielmehr entscheiden die Aufteilung von unbezahlter Sorgearbeit zwischen Frauen und Männern und die Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf darüber, ob und in welchem Umfang Frauen erwerbstätig sein können. Politisch Verantwortliche und Arbeitgeber müssen daher handeln. Die Ergebnisse des DGB-Index zeigen: Zielgerichtete betriebliche Maßnahmen können zu einer besseren Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf beitragen, was vor allem Frauen zugutekäme. Und auch auf politischer Ebene müssen die Hürden für Frauen am Arbeitsmarkt abgebaut werden. Nur so können die wirtschaftliche Eigenständigkeit von Frauen gestärkt und ihr großes Erwerbspotenzial zur Fachkräftesicherung genutzt werden." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

Abstract

"In der zehnten Ausgabe von „Kindertagesbetreuung Kompakt“ werden Daten zum Ausbaustand und zum elterlichen Bedarf an Kindertagesbetreuung im Jahr 2024 sowie im Zeitverlauf zusammengestellt. Der Schwerpunkt liegt zum einen auf den unterschiedlichen Entwicklungen in Ost- und Westdeutschland und zum anderen auf der Bevölkerungsentwicklung, die das Feld der Kindertagesbetreuung deutlich beeinflusst. Die neuen Daten zeigen folgende zentrale Ergebnisse." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Adams, Ayhan (2024): Coparenting and conflicts between work and family: Between-within analysis of German mothers and fathers. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 36, S. 262-282. DOI:10.20377/jfr-1013

Abstract

"Objective: The study examines the relationship between coparenting conflicts and work-to-family/family-to-work conflicts for employed mothers and fathers. Background: The presence of children exacerbates the compatibility of work and duties of the private life for working parents. Working along similar lines in terms of parenting seems to be necessary to cope with these challenges. Still, a few studies have focused on the relationship between coparenting and interrole conflicts. Method: The quantitative analysis draws on longitudinal data from waves 6 to 10 of the German Family Panel, comprising N=3,608 observations of 1,377 individuals. The study employs between-within regression models to examine the inter- and intraindividual associations of coparenting conflicts and work-to-family/family-to-work conflicts. Results: The results revealed a statistically significant association between the level of coparenting conflicts and both, work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts. Additionally, changes in coparenting conflicts are associated with changes in family-to-work conflicts. Interestingly, the interaction between the level of coparenting conflicts and gender shows that the associations with interrole conflicts are more pronounced for fathers than mothers. Conclusion: The study provides insights into the interrelatedness between the parental coparenting relationship and the compatibility of work and family. The results underscore the significant relationship between coparenting conflicts and interrole conflicts for mothers and fathers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Albrecht, James, Per-Anders Edin, Raquel Fernández, Jiwon Lee, Peter Thoursie & Susan Vroman (2024): Parental Leave: Economic Incentives and Cultural Change. (NBER working paper / National Bureau of Economic Research 32839), Cambridge, Mass, 49 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))

Zitatform

Allmendinger, Jutta & Michelle Boden (2024): Vom Gender Gap zum Gender Gain: Wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse und Anregungen zur Politikgestaltung. In: Ifo-Schnelldienst, Jg. 77, H. 8, S. 7-10.

Abstract

"Die finanzielle Gleichstellung von Frauen und Männern, Müttern und Vätern sei noch lange nicht erreicht, erklären Jutta Allmendinger und Michelle Boden, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung. Insbesondere die immensen Unterschiede in den Lebenseinkommen zeigen dies deutlich. Aus ihrer Sicht wird es noch einige Zeit dauern, bis die ökonomische Gleichstellung tatsächlich Realität sei. Dies liege nicht nur an langwierigen politischen Entscheidungsprozessen, sondern auch an hartnäckigen Vorurteilen und Stereotypen, die Frauen und Männer in verschiedene Rollen zwängen und Entscheidungen beeinflussen. Ein Teufelskreis aus Strukturen und Kulturen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Aragonès, Enriqueta (2024): Family Restrictions at Work. (Barcelona GSE working paper series 1429), Barcelona, 24 S.

Abstract

"This paper analizes the discrimination that individuals face at work due to their commitment to unpaid care work. The formal model presents a parametrization of the discrimination that affects the individual's optimal labor market participation. The welfare of individuals with commitment to family duties is reduced for two different reasons: for not being able to participate as much in the labor market and thus receive a lower labor income, and for not being able to contribute as much to their family commitments. We compare the results for the female and male sections of the society and we illustrate the observed gender gaps in terms of labor market participation, income levels, and overall utility obtained. We find that even though the gender wage gap may be alleviated with reductions of the cost associated to unpaid care work, the gender utility gap will persist." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Arnemann, Laura, Lukas Riedel & Holger Stichnoth (2024): Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede bei Einkommen und Erwerbsbeteiligung, wichtige Einflussfaktoren und Ereignisse. Forschungsbericht im Rahmen des Siebten Armuts- und Reichtumsberichts. Mannheim, 120 S.

Abstract

"Der vorliegende Bericht legt geschlechts- und kohortenspezifische Altersprofile von Erwerbseinkommen und Beschäftigung vor, analysiert Einflussfaktoren auf diese Profile (Bildung, Kinderzahl, Migrationshintergrund, Wohnort in Ost- oder Westdeutschland), untersucht die Auswirkungen (erwerbs-)biografischer Ereignisse (Geburt des ersten Kindes, Scheidung, Arbeitslosigkeit, Erwerbsminderung/Schwerbehinderung) auf Erwerbseinkommen und Beschäftigung und arbeitet in einer Lebensverlaufsbetrachtung typische Verläufe der Einkommen, gemessen an der alters- und jahresspezifischen Position in der Einkommensverteilung, sowie die Verteilung der kumulierten Erwerbseinkommen im Alter von 20 bis 45, differenziert nach Geschlecht, Kohorte und weiteren Merkmalen, heraus. Datengrundlage sind das Sozio-oekonomische Panel und die Stichprobe der Integrierten Arbeitsmarktbiografien." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Artmann, Elisabeth (2024): Für Mütter im Grundsicherungsbezug ist Kinderbetreuung der mit Abstand wichtigste Grund für die Freistellung von der Arbeitssuche. In: IAB-Forum H. 02.09.2024, 2024-09-02. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FOO.20240902.01

Abstract

"Alleinerziehende mit minderjährigen Kindern sind häufiger auf Leistungen der Grundsicherung angewiesen als Paare mit Kindern. Alleinerziehende Mütter sind in solchen Fällen nach eigenen Angaben häufiger als Mütter und seltener als Väter in Paar-Bedarfsgemeinschaften zur Arbeitssuche verpflichtet. Diese Unterschiede resultieren im Wesentlichen aus der Altersverteilung der Kinder. Für Mütter ist Kinderbetreuung mit Abstand der wichtigste Grund, warum sie von der Arbeitssuche freigestellt sind. Bei Vätern hingegen sind gesundheitliche Einschränkungen oder das Absolvieren einer Ausbildung die wichtigsten Freistellungsgründe." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Auspurg, Katrin & Sabine Düval (2024): Housework as a Woman's Job? What Looks Like Gender Ideologies Could Also Be Stereotypes. In: Sociological Science, Jg. 11, S. 789-814. DOI:10.15195/v11.a29

Abstract

"We question the validity of standard measures of gender ideology. When asked about “men” and “women” in general, respondents may imagine women (men) with lower (higher) labor market resources. Therefore, standard measures may conflate gender ideologies (injunctive norms) with stereotypical beliefs (descriptive norms). We test this hypothesis with an experiment in the German family panel pairfam: ∼1,200 respondents rated the appropriate division of housework in ∼3,700 hypothetical couples. By gradually adding information about labor market resources, we were able to override respondents’ stereotypical beliefs. We find that with more information, even “traditional” respondents support egalitarian housework arrangements. The main difference between “traditional” and “egalitarian” respondents is not in their ideologies (as previously thought), but in their interpretation of vague items. This leads us to conclude that standard measures overestimate traditional gender ideologies. Our study also illustrates how varying the amount of information can help identify respondents’ implicit beliefs." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Barbieri, Teresa, Michele Bavaro & Valeria Cirillo (2024): Trapped in the care burden: occupational downward mobility of Italian couples after childbirth. (GLO discussion paper / Global Labor Organization 1475), Essen, 36 S.

Abstract

"How does childbirth impact the career paths of men and women within the same household? To what extent does the unpaid care work related to this event contribute to the downward mobility experienced by women in a highly flexible labour market like Italy? Drawing on feminist and labour market studies, this article examines how caregiving responsibilities, particularly childcare, influence downward employment transitions for men and women in couples, specifically from full-time to part-time, from higher-paid to lower-paid jobs, and from employment to unemployment. The study also employs latent class analysis to map out variations in within-household inequality experienced after childbirth among couples. To achieve this, we utilize a unique survey-administrative linked dataset. The findings highlight significant penalties faced by women, not only immediately after childbirth but persisting for up to three years afterwards. Moreover, the latent class analysis reveals a small proportion of pro-female households compared to egalitarian and pro-male classes." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Begall, Katia (2024): What (wo)men want? Evidence from a factorial survey on preferred work hours in couples after childbirth. In: European Sociological Review, Jg. 40, H. 2, S. 342-356. DOI:10.1093/esr/jcad054

Abstract

"The division of labour remains persistently gendered, in particular among couples with children. Previous research shows that women’s lower economic resources are an important factor driving these inequalities, but because gender and (relative) earnings are highly correlated in male–female couples, their relative importance is difficult to disentangle with observational data. Using a factorial survey conducted among approximately 700 employed men and women of childbearing age in Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, the contribution of relative earnings and gender in explaining work-care divisions in couples with children is disentangled. The results show that men and women do not differ in their preferences for their own work hours after childbirth, but both prefer the father to work more hours than the mother. Moreover, the combination of own and partners’ preferred hours shows that men and women in all three countries prefer a modified male-breadwinner model after childbirth in scenarios where the male partner earns more or partners have equal earnings. Preferences for egalitarian divisions of labour appear to be slightly stronger in men compared to women and respondents with more egalitarian views on care tasks show less gender-specialization." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Bergemann, Annette, Stephan Brunow & Isabel Stockton (2024): There and Back Again: Women's Marginal Commuting Costs. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 16890), Bonn, 67 S.

Abstract

"We estimate female and male workers' marginal willingness to pay to reduce commuting distance in Germany, using a partial-equilibrium model of job search with non-wage job attributes. Commuting costs have implications not just for congestion policy, spatial planning and transport infrastructure provision, but are also relevant to our understanding of gender differences in labour market biographies. For estimation, we use a stratified partial likelihood model on a large administrative dataset for West Germany to flexibly account for both unobserved individual heterogeneity and changes dependent on wages and children. We find that an average female childless worker is willing to give up daily €0.27 per kilometre (0.4% of the daily wage) to reduce commuting distance at the margin. The average men's marginal willingness to pay is similar to childless women's over a large range of wages. However, women's marginal willingness to pay more than doubles after the birth of a child contributing substantially to the motherhood wage gap. A married mixed-sex couple's sample indicates that husbands try to avoid commuting shorter distances than their wives." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Bian, Fei, Luana Marx & Leen Vandecasteele (2024): Parenthood and Couples’ Division of Paid Labor: The Role of Prebirth Breadwinner Couple Type in European Cross-National Perspective. In: Demography, Jg. 61, H. 6, S. 1819-1844. DOI:10.1215/00703370-11675596

Abstract

"Although it is well established that parenthood affects employment decisions within households, less is known about how this effect varies across couple types in different countries. Using difference-in-differences analysis with propensity score matching and multilevel modeling with cross-level interactions, this study explores heterogeneity in the effect of parenthood on couples’ division of paid labor by prebirth relative earning power in different European contexts. The results show that the decline in the female share of couples’ paid working hours after parenthood is stronger in male main-earner couples than in equal-earner or female main-earner couples. Our cross-national findings demonstrate that institutional and cultural factors influence couples’ postparenthood employment arrangements, with the magnitude of these moderating effects dependent on the couple's prebirth relative earning pattern. Longer paid maternity and family leave for mothers exacerbates the parenthood effect on couples’ division of paid labor, whereas greater childcare provision weakens this effect. However, these policy impacts are observed only among male main-earner couples, which can be attributed to differences in opportunity costs and bargaining power across couple types. Egalitarian gender norms weaken the effect of parenthood on the paid labor division between partners regardless of the breadwinner couple type before childbirth." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

Zitatform

Biegel, Naomi & Julie Maes (2024): The educational gradient in formal childcare use – the role of employment opportunities and (in)formal childcare availability. In: Community, work & family, Jg. 27, H. 4, S. 535-555. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2022.2149387

Abstract

"This paper investigates three potential mechanisms of educational differentials in formal childcare uptake in Belgium, a country characterised by high availability, but also pronounced gradients in childcare uptake. We investigate whether and to what extent educational differentials can be accounted for by (i) differences in employment opportunities of mothers with different educational backgrounds, (ii) variation in local childcare availability which may entail different access, or (iii) differential availability of grandparents as an alternative source of affordable and flexible care. We use data from the 2011 Belgian census, which provides us with information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the entire population legally residing in Belgium. The census was linked to tax register data which gives insight into the uptake of formal childcare as childcare expenses are tax-deductible, as well as municipality-level data on childcare availability. Using logistic regression analysis, we investigate the uptake of formal childcare among two-parent families with one child younger than 2.5 years old. Results indicate that educational gradients are mainly due to differences in employment opportunities rather than differential availability of formal childcare at the local level or informal childcare availability." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Bister, Lara, Peter Eibich & Roberta Rutigliano (2024): Who is affected by parental leave reforms? Women's selection into different parental leave lengths across recent policy reforms in Germany. In: Genus : Journal of Population Sciences, Jg. 80. DOI:10.1186/s41118-024-00221-4

Abstract

"Public parental leave schemes aim to facilitate women’s reconciliation of family and employment after their transition into motherhood. While parental leave policies underwent several reforms over the past decades, adapting to changing female labor market participation and family cultures, the available entitlements are not tailored to women’s individual circumstances and needs. Itremains unclear how these affect the women’s parental leave uptake, particularly the leave length. In this paper, we followed an exploratory and descriptive approach to study the selection of women into different parental leave lengths with changing public parental leave entitlements in Germany and according to their individual characteristics. We use data from the German Statutory Pension Fund on 29,001 women born between 1955 and 1984 who had their first child between 1991 and 2016 at the ages 20–39. We estimate linear regression and discrete-time proportional hazard models to examine associations between women’s characteristics and their length of leave. We identify the effects of two major parental leave reforms in Germany in 1992 and 2007 in a Regression Discontinuity Design. Our results show that the general extension of available parental leave entitlements in 1992 increased the likelihood of women’s parental leave uptake between 25 and 36 months. For women who became mothers at an older age, had a high income before transitioning into motherhood, or with higher education; however, the likelihood of parental leave uptake of 2 months increased. The reform of 2007 led to an increased likelihood of leave uptake longer than 2 months for these women. These findings suggest that women with a higher labor market attachment have responded more strongly to the changes in parental leave benefits in Germany." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Blom, Niels & Lynn Prince Cooke (2024): Wage Effects of Couples' Divisions of Labour across the UK Wage Distribution. In: Work, Employment and Society, Jg. 38, H. 5, S. 1223-1243. DOI:10.1177/09500170231180818

Abstract

"Specialisation and gender theories offer competing hypotheses of whether men’s and women’s wages rise or fall based on the couple’s division of household unpaid and paid labour, and how effects differ across the wage distribution. We test division effects by analysing British panel data using unconditional quantile regression with individual fixed effects, controlling for own hours in housework and employment. We find only high-wage men’s wages were significantly greater when their partners specialised in routine housework, and when they were the sole breadwinner. Conversely, low- and high-wage partnered women incurred significant wage penalties as their share of housework exceeded their partners’. Wages for low-wage men and median- and high-wage women also decreased as their share of household employment increased. We conclude only elite partnered men benefit from specialisation. Everyone else is either better off or no worse off with equitable household divisions of paid and unpaid work." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))