Zitatform

Larsen Gibby, Ashley, Jocelyn Wikle & Cambria Siddoway (2025): Maternal labor supply among fully biological, fully adoptive, and mixed biological/adoptive mothers. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-22. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2025.2504910

Abstract

"Research in Western Europe shows that adoptive and non-adoptive mothers do not differ dramatically in earnings, supporting the conclusion that biology is not a strong explanation for the wage gap between mothers and fathers. We expand on this conclusion by examining these trends in the United States and considering two new explanations of why adoptive and non-adoptive mothers may differ: socioeconomic inequalities and commitment to the labor market. We consider differences between fully biological mothers (n = 269,930), fully adoptive mothers (n = 3,865), and mothers with both biological and adopted children (mixed biological/adoptive, n = 1,712) using the United States Current Population Survey (CPS) from 2007 to 2018. Regression results show that fully adoptive mothers were least likely, and fully biological mothers were most likely, to be employed. There were no significant differences in usual work hours across these groups. Moderation results show that adoption was not a consistent predictor of labor supply among those with young children or high levels of education. Our results are exploratory and suggest that adoptive mothers are socioeconomically advantaged, possibly reducing their need to work. Further, our moderation results challenge the idea that adoptive mothers have weaker ties to the labor market." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Laschinski, Miriam & Ruth Abramowski (2025): Lebenslauffolgen der professionellen Erbringung von Care-Arbeit. (DIFIS-Impuls 2025,9), Duisburg ; Bremen, 4 S.

Abstract

"Der Arbeitskräftemangel in den sozialen Dienstleistungen ist inzwischen zu einem Dauerbrenner geworden. Dass dies nicht nur ein Resultat des demografischen Wandels ist, sondern auch von schlechter Personalplanung, einer Ökonomisierung des Care-Sektors sowie schlechten Arbeitsbedingungen in Pflegeheimen, Kranken­­häusern und Kitas begleitet wird, ist zunehmend Konsens in Öffentlichkeit und Forschung. Insbesondere kurz- und langfristige Folgen für die professionell Beschäftigten, die diese Dienstleistungen erbringen, rücken zunehmend in den Fokus. So haben die hohen Arbeitsbelastungen negative Auswirkungen auf die unmittelbare, aber auch auf die langfristige physische wie psychische Gesundheit. Hinzu kommen geringe Aufstiegs- und Weiterbildungsmöglichkeiten, häufige Erwerbsunterbrechungen sowie komplette Berufsaus­stiege, sodass Karriereverläufe beeinträchtigt werden und die finanzielle Absicherung kurz- wie langfristig bedroht ist. Auf individueller Ebene können Stress sowie Konflikte mit dem eigenen Berufsethos – gute Pflege oder Betreuung erbringen zu wollen, aber aus Zeitgründen nicht leisten zu können – entstehen, sodass negative Konsequenzen für die Qualität der Dienstleistungserbringung nicht selten sind. Auf gesamtgesellschaftlicher Ebene kann dies zu einer unbefriedigten Nachfrage nach professioneller und qualitativ hochwertiger Care-Arbeit führen. Verbesserungs- und Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten ergeben sich durch Tarifverträge und Arbeitsbedingungen, die der Sozialstaat und die Sozialpartner vorantreiben können. Dieser Impuls ist durch die Vorträge und Diskussionen des Workshops „Lebenslauffolgen der professionellen Erbringung von Care-Arbeit“ im Februar 2025 inspiriert worden. Auf diesem Wege möchten sich die Organisatorinnen der Veranstaltung, die auch gleichzeitig die Autorinnen dieses DIFIS-Impulses sind, noch einmal ganz herzlich bei allen Workshop-Beteiligten bedanken! Es war eine tolle und bereichernde Veranstaltung, die durch jeden einzelnen Vortrag und Diskussionsbeitrag bereichert wurde. Darüber hinaus geht ein großer Dank an Franca Riegert und Greta Becker für die sehr gute Unterstützung sowohl bei der Vorbereitung als auch bei der Durchführung des Workshops! Dieser Impuls fasst zentrale Erkenntnisse der Diskussion zusammen, kann aber natürlich nicht die Tiefe und Breite der gesamten Veranstaltung abbilden." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Leshchenko, Olga & Susanne Strauss (2025): Flexible working time arrangements and work-life conflict: The role of gender and housework. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 37, S. 205-226. DOI:10.20377/jfr-1186

Abstract

"Fragestellung:In diesem Artikel untersuchen wir, wie die Beziehung zwischen flexiblen Arbeitszeitarrangements und dem Konflikt zwischen Erwerbsarbeit und Privatleben (work–to–life conflict) sowie zwischen Privatleben und Erwerbsarbeit (life–to–work conflict) durch eine (un)gleiche Aufteilung der Hausarbeit bei heterosexuellen Paaren moderiert wird.Hintergrund:Flexible Arbeitszeitarrangements können Arbeitnehmer/innen mehr Autonomie bei der Balance zwischen Erwerbsarbeit und Privatleben ermöglichen. Bisherige Studien haben jedoch gezeigt, dass diese Flexibilität auf geschlechtsspezifische Weise genutzt wird: Während Frauen mit flexiblen Arbeitszeitarrangements mehr Zeit für die Hausarbeit aufwenden, erhöhen Männer ihre Erwerbsarbeitszeit. Unser Artikel baut auf diesen Befunden auf und untersucht, wie die Heterogenität in der Aufteilung der Hausarbeit in Paarhaushalten die Beziehung zwischen flexiblen Arbeitszeitregelungen und Konflikten zwischen Erwerbsarbeit und Privatleben moderiert.Methode:Die Analysen basieren auf dem Deutschen Familienpanel (pairfam), Welle 12 (2019-2020) und umfassen 2.032 erwerbstätige Personen in einer Partnerschaft (1.162 Frauen und 870 Männer). Die multivariaten Analysen basieren auf linearen Regressionsmodellen.Ergebnisse:Vom Unternehmen festgelegte und autonome Arbeitszeitmodelle sind mit größeren Konflikten zwischen Erwerbsarbeit und Privatleben (work–to–life conflict) verbunden, insbesondere bei Männern, während Frauen mit vollständiger Kontrolle über ihre Arbeitszeiten seltener über Konflikte berichten. Das Ausmaß des Konflikts zwischen Privatleben und Erwerbsarbeit (life–to–work conflict) ist bei den verschiedenen Arbeitszeitmodellen ähnlich, mit Ausnahme von Frauen mit Gleitzeit, die öfter über einen Konflikt berichteten. Die Einbindung in die Hausarbeit spielt insofern eine Rolle als Frauen, die den Großteil der Hausarbeit übernehmen, bei flexiblen Arbeitszeitarrangements mit größeren Konflikten zwischen Privatleben und Erwerbsarbeit (life–to–work conflict) konfrontiert sind. Männer mit unternehmensdefinierten Arbeitszeitarrangements berichten hingegen häufiger über Konflikte in beide Richtungen (also work–to–life conflict sowie life–to–work conflict), wenn sie sich die Hausarbeit gleichberechtigt mit ihrer Partnerin teilen.Schlussfolgerung:Der Zugang zu flexiblen Arbeitszeitarrangements allein verringert die Konflikte zwischen Erwerbsarbeit und Privatleben nicht unbedingt, da die Auswirkungen sowohl vom Geschlecht als auch von der Hausarbeitsverteilung im Paarhaushalt abhängen" (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Li, Anita (2025): Is It Daddy Time Yet? Trends and Variation in Men's Employment Hours Around Childbirth: 1989–2020. In: Demography, Jg. 62, H. 4, S. 1319-1339. DOI:10.1215/00703370-12157124

Abstract

"Scholars continue to debate the progress of the gender revolution. Some argue that the gender revolution is stalled, whereas others see an emerging second half marked by men's increased involvement in the home. Using longitudinally linked monthly data from the 1989–2020 Current Population Survey, I show that U.S. fathers from more recent cohorts worked fewer hours around the time of a childbirth than earlier cohorts—evidence consistent with the second half of the gender revolution. The magnitude of change is modest but is larger among college-educated men, men with a college-educated partner, and men in dual-earner households. Changes across cohorts are entirely accounted for by men's increasing reports of parental leave usage. Findings shed light on the changing relationship between parenthood and work for men and suggest continued steps toward gender equality." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

Zitatform

Liepmann, Hannah & Ariane Hegewisch (2025): Revisiting Occupational Segregation and the Valuation of Women's Work. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 18291), Bonn, 45 S.

Abstract

"While population ageing increases the demand for care work, new technologies, including AI, reinforce the importance of human interaction, with recent research finding significant wage premiums for social skills. Against this background, we investigate two factors behind the gender wage gap: occupational gender segregation and lower pay in female-dominated occupations, especially care work, where social skills are central. Using 1972-2024 CPS data, we show that occupational gender segregation remains pronounced in the United States, with many care occupations remaining female-dominated. This continues to correlate with lower wages. Conditional on observable characteristics, a 1 percentage point increase in the occupational share of women during 2015-24 was associated with a wage decrease of 0.22 percent for women and 0.20 percent for men. We then analyze whether returns to social skills are distorted in the care sector, where we hypothesize that the wage returns on workers' performance are lower due to the public-goods aspect of care work. Based on combined CPS and O*Net data, we investigate occupation-level skills returns for 2015-24. They are indeed insignificant for care workers but sizeable for business services workers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Lillebø, Otto Sevaldson, Simen Markussen & Knut Røed (2025): The Effects of Maternity Leave Benefits on Mothers and Children. A Reexamination. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 18193), Bonn, 35 S.

Abstract

"We provide a full reexamination of the effects of a maternity leave extension implemented in Norway in 1977. Previous research reporting large favorable long-term effects on mothers' health and on offspring's educational and labor market outcomes relied on an incorrect description of the reform and an invalid identification strategy. In the present paper, we show that the previously reported results are misleading. Building on an accurate description of the reform and its implementation, we document that it had no noticeable long-term effects on mothers' health or on offspring's education and labor market outcomes." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Liu, Andrew Yizhou (2025): Paid family leave and occupational mobility. In: Applied Economics, S. 1-12. DOI:10.1080/00036846.2025.2526858

Abstract

"Paid family leave (PFL) programmes provide temporary financial support and workplace flexibility for mothers, potentially influencing their occupational choices after childbirth. I find that state-level PFL programs reduce downward occupational mobility among women aged 19 to 35 with children aged 0 to 3 by approximately 42%, with stronger effects among high-school educated, black, and single mothers. However, these policies have no significant impact on upward occupational mobility, indicating that PFL alone may be insufficient for reducing the gender gap in occupation." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Love, Jasmine, Katrina A. Lambert, Amanda Cooklin, Stacey Hokke, Liana Leach, Rebecca Giallo, Tinh Doan, Helen Findley & Jodi Oakman (2025): Mismatch between actual and preferred number of days working from home. Parental status, work-family conflict, and stress. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-22. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2025.2584084

Abstract

"This study assessed whether the mismatch between Australian employees actual and preferred number of days working from home is associated with work-to-family conflict, family-to-work conflict and four indicators of stress (burnout, general stress, somatic stress, cognitive stress). Whether these relationships were moderated by parental status was examined. Employees working from home completed online surveys in May 2021 (n = 451), November 2021 (n = 358) and May 2022 (n = 320). The three waves of data were pooled (337 non-parents, 179 parents) and generalised mixed effects models were used. For parents, a mismatch between actual and preferred amount of working from home, particularly working from home less than preferred, was associated with increased work-to-family conflict (but not family-to-work conflict). Working from home more than preferred was associated with increases in all four aspects of stress for parents and non-parents. Working from home less than preferred was associated with increased burnout among non-parents and decreased general stress and cognitive stress among parents. Findings suggest there is no one-size-fits-all approach in how much working from home is optimal, but a mismatch in work from home preferences can have adverse associations with employee wellbeing, particularly work-to-family conflict for parents. Work from home arrangements should be tailored to individual needs." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Luo, Chen & Ewa Jarosz (2025): Job creation, job destruction, and fertility in Germany. In: Demographic Research, Jg. 52, S. 383-414. DOI:10.4054/demres.2025.52.13

Abstract

"Background: Labor market dynamics, such as job creation and job destruction, bear different associations with fertility. The relationship between job loss and fertility has been a core topic in family demography. However, little attention has been paid to examining how the expansion of some industries is associated with childbearing. Objective: This study investigates how job creation and job destruction are associated with regional-level total fertility rates in Germany. By including gender-specific job creation and destruction, it also aims to explore the drivers behind gender differences in the employment–fertility nexus. Methods: We use data from 400 NUTS 3 regions in Germany covering the period from 2008 to 2020. Spatial panel data modelling is used to examine the association between the creation and destruction of jobs and regional fertility rates. The approach allows us to identify both temporal and spatial processes associated with fertility. Results: We find a positive association between jobs created for female workers and regional fertility rates. Conversely, job destruction among male workers is negatively associated with regional fertility rates. Industry-level analyses suggest that particularly for women, the characteristics of the newly created jobs could matter for childbearing. Contribution: This study provides a nuanced picture of the association between job creation, job destruction, and fertility. In particular, our findings highlight gender differences in the relationship between dynamic labor market processes and childbearing. The relatively high degree of job creation, particularly in the female-dominated industries, might have contributed to the increase in fertility in Germany since 2009." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Max-Planck-Institut für demographische Forschung) ((en))

Zitatform

Lütolf, Meret (2025): Paternal Leave Duration and the Closure of the Gendered Family Work Gap. In: Social Politics, Jg. 32, H. 4, S. 1153-1183. DOI:10.1093/sp/jxaf017

Abstract

"In recent years, as societal norms evolve, active fatherhood has gained prominence as contributing to child well-being and gender equality. Parental leave policies are seen as key support, yet the extent to which paternity leave, and in particular the duration of its effective uptake, and the longer-term objective of gender equality in unpaid work correlate, remains unclear. This article explores the link between paternal leave uptake and subsequent care division among parents, considering country opportunities and individual attitudes. Using new survey data from five countries including a novel 24-hour slider measurement system, the linear regression models reveal a positive correlation between longer paternal leave uptake and a more balanced distribution of unpaid work, that is, a smaller family work gap. The study emphasizes the essential role of parental leave policies in fostering an egalitarian division of labor and enhances the understanding of the interplay between parental leave, caregiving, and gender." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Lütolf, Meret (2025): The Balancing Act of Working Mothers and Caring Fathers. Impact of Family Policy on Egalitarianism in Families in Western Democracies. Wiesbaden: Springer VS, 220 S. DOI:10.1007/978-3-658-47716-5

Abstract

"This Open-Access-book explores how egalitarian parental leave policies can support a more balanced division of paid work and caregiving. Introducing a novel analysis grid and a unique dataset, Meret Lütolf examines parental leave policies in five countries – United States, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, and Sweden – revealing how fully paid, non-transferable leave can promote gender-neutral caregiving roles. Key findings highlight the connection between longer paternal leave and a more equal distribution of unpaid work, along with fathers’ willingness to reduce paid work hours in favor of caregiving. By combining multiple research methods, the study links policy intentions with real-life outcomes and identifies feasible reforms, including full wage replacement, that can enhance egalitarianism without raising policy costs. Offering valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and advocates, this book demonstrates how parental leave policies can contribute to more equal family dynamics and address broader gender inequalities in society." (Publisher information, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Maclean, Joanna Catherine & Sabrina Wulff Pabilonia (2025): The Effects of State Paid Sick Leave Mandates on Parental Childcare Time. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 17786), Bonn, 75 S.

Abstract

"Unlike most developed countries, the U.S. lacks a federal paid sick leave policy. As a result, many workers must choose between losing earnings and attending to childcare responsibilities. To date, 17 states and the District of Columbia have adopted or announced paid sick leave mandates that provide up to seven days of paid leave per year that can be used for family responsibilities and healthcare. In this study, we estimate the effects of state paid sick leave mandates on parents' time spent providing childcare using time diaries from the 2004–2023 American Time Use Survey. Findings from difference-in-differences estimators suggest that post-mandate, parental time spent providing childcare increases by 5.8%. Effects are stronger among women with younger children. Overall, our findings suggest that paid sick leave mandates allow parents to better balance work and family responsibilities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Maier, Eva-Maria, Almond Stöcker, Bernd Fitzenberger & Sonja Greven (2025): Additive density-on-scalar regression in Bayes Hilbert spaces with an application to gender economics. In: The annals of applied statistics, Jg. 19, H. 1, S. 680-700., 2024-10-21. DOI:10.1214/24-aoas1979

Abstract

"Motivated by research on gender identity norms and the distribution of the woman’s share in a couple’s total labor income, we consider additive regression models for densities as responses with scalar covariates. To preserve nonnegativity and integration to one under vector space operations, we formulate the model for densities in a Bayes Hilbert space, which allows to not only consider continuous densities but also, for example, discrete or mixed densities. Mixed ones occur in our application, as the woman’s income share is a continuous variable having discrete point masses at zero and one for single-earner couples. Estimation is based on a gradient boosting algorithm, allowing for potentially numerous flexible (linear, nonlinear, categorical, interaction etc.) covariate effects and model selection. We show useful properties of Bayes Hilbert spaces related to subcompositional coherence, also yielding new (odds-ratio) interpretations of effect functions and simplified estimation for mixed densities via an orthogonal decomposition. Applying our approach to data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) shows a more symmetric distribution in East German than in West German couples after reunification and a smaller child penalty comparing couples with and without minor children. These West–East differences become smaller but are persistent over time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Manicardi, Caterina & Maria Enrica Virgillito (2025): Unpaid Working Time and Disproportionate Female Hazard: an Intersectionality Perspective. (LEM working paper series / Laboratory of Economics and Management 2025/01), Pisa, 36 S. DOI:10.57838/sssa/0v9f-0384

Abstract

"How has the distribution of unpaid working time between men and women evolved over the last twenty years? Does unpaid working time still disproportionately affect women, more than fifty years after the massive entry of the female labor force into formal employment? And, if so, which market and non-market factors drive this stratification and could possibly facilitate the transition out of an unequal intrahousehold division of labor? This paper leverages the most complete dataset collecting individual time diaries, the ATUS-CPS 2003-2022, to investigate the role of market variables such as real wages, household income, industry and occupation vis-a -vis non-market factors such as gender, race, household type and state of residence in explaining variations in unpaid time allocation. By exploiting both the cross-sectional and panel dimensions of the dataset, we provide novel evidence on individual time allocation and its gendered distribution, integrating an intersectional perspective that looks at the role of income classes and socio-material conditions in affecting the likelihood of escaping disproportionate exposure to unpaid work. Our results indicate that, despite clear class-based patterns, belonging to the upper income class is not enough for women to escape disproportionate burdens." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Marcén, Miriam & Marina Morales (2025): The gender gap in working from home after the onset of COVID-19. In: Review of Economics of the Household, Jg. 23, H. 4, S. 1459-1486. DOI:10.1007/s11150-025-09809-x

Abstract

"This study examines changes in the gender gap in the take up and intensity of working from home following the unexpected onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from the American Time Use Survey, we find that working from home became more prevalent among women than men, thus widening the gender gap. Job characteristics played a crucial role in this trend, particularly among private sector workers. The gender gap widened most significantly among young, highly educated individuals and those living with dependents. Moreover, our results suggest that social distancing measures increased working from home time for men but did not have the same effect on women. We also extend our analysis to other work-related outcomes, finding that women experienced less favorable outcomes, particularly an increase in unpredictable or non-standard schedules. Overall, this shift in the gender gap is statistically significant over time and remains robust." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Matysiak, Anna, Beata Osiewalska & Anna Kurowska (2025): The Role of Working-From-Home for Maternal Employment Re-Entry after Childbirth. (Working papers / Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw 2025-18), Warsaw, 43 S.

Abstract

"This study investigates how work-from-home (WFH) —by mothers and their male partners—shapes maternal employment re-entry after childbirth. Drawing on Conservation of Resources and Boundary Management theories, the study distinguishes between WFH access and regular use. It hypothesizes that regular WFH use by mothers and their partners supports earlier and full-time maternal return to paid work, particularly among second-time mothers. The UK Household Longitudinal Study (2009–2019) is used to estimate discrete-time hazard models of return to paid work after first and second births, distinguishing between full-time and part-time re-entry. Among first-time mothers, both WFH access and regular use are associated with a greater likelihood of full-time re-entry, though not with overall return. Among second-time mothers, regular pre-birth WFH use significantly increases the likelihood of returning to paid work—regardless of hours—whereas access alone does not. No significant associations are found between male partners' WFH and maternal employment outcomes." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Matysiak, Anna, Wojciech Hardy & Lucas van der Velde (2025): Structural Labour Market Change and Gender Inequality in Earnings. In: Work, Employment and Society, Jg. 39, H. 2, S. 426-448. DOI:10.1177/09500170241258953

Abstract

"Research from the US argues that women will benefit from a structural labor market change as the importance of social tasks increases and that of manual tasks declines. This article contributes to this discussion in three ways: (a) by extending the standard framework of task content of occupations in order to account for the gender perspective; (b) by developing measures of occupational task content tailored to the European context; and (c) by testing this argument in 13 European countries. Data are analyzed from the European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations database and the European Structure of Earnings Survey. The analysis demonstrates that relative to men the structural labor market change improves the earnings potential of women working in low- and middle-skilled occupations but not those in high-skilled occupations. Women are overrepresented in low-paid social tasks (e.g. care) and are paid less for analytical tasks than men." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Meekes, Jordy & Max van Lent (2025): The Impact of Neighbour, Colleague, and Family Peers on Parental Labour Supply. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 18148), Bonn, 47 S.

Abstract

"Child penalties in paid working hours are persistent and widen the gender earnings gap. This paper studies an important mechanism through which working hours are affected: peer effects. Using three unique layers of peer networks: neighbours, colleagues, and family, we analyse peer effects on individuals' paid working hours. We analyse peer effects up to six years after childbirth on individuals who become first-time parents in the period 2014-2018, using Dutch full-population administrative monthly microdata up to September 2024. The identification strategy exploits exogenous variation in peers' working hours through peers-of-peers. Our research is the first to establish long-term statistically significant peer effects on fathers' working hours. The results indicate positive peer effects on fathers and mothers, where colleague peers are more important than neighbour peers and family peers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Melentyeva, Valentina & Lukas Riedel (2025): Child Penalty Estimation and Mothers Age at First Birth. (RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2025,19), Berlin, 45 S.

Abstract

"We show that the widespread approach to estimate the career costs of motherhood – so called “child penalties” – is prone to produce biased results, as it pools first-time mothers of all ages without accounting for their differences in characteristics and outcomes. We propose a novel method building on the recent advances in the difference-in-differences literature to address this issue. Applied to German administrative data, our method yields 30 percent larger post-birth earnings losses than the conventional approach. We document meaningful effect heterogeneity by maternal age in both magnitude and interpretation, highlighting its key role in understanding the impact of motherhood." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Mogstad, Magne, Kjell G. Salvanes & Gaute Torsvik (2025): Income Equality in The Nordic Countries: Myths, Facts, and Lessons. (BFI Working Papers / University of Chicago, Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics 2025,25), Chicago, 58 S. DOI:10.2139/ssrn.5133608

Abstract

"Policymakers, public commentators, and researchers often cite the Nordic countries as examples of a social and economic model that successfully combines low income inequality with prosperity and growth. This article aims to critically assess this claim by integrating theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence to illustrate how the Nordic model functions and why these countries experience low inequality. Our analysis suggests that income equality in the Nordics is primarily driven by a significant compression of hourly wages, reducing the returns to labor market skills and education. This appears to be achieved through a wage bargaining system characterized by strong coordination both within and across industries. This finding contrasts with other commonly cited explanations for Nordic income equality, such as redistribution through the tax-transfer system, public spending on goods that complement employment, and public policies aimed at equalizing skills and human capital distribution. We consider the potential lessons for other economies that seek to reduce income equality. We conclude by discussing several underexplored or unresolved questions and issues." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Monteiro Maia, Ana Sofia, Margarida Miguel Costeira e Pereira, Svenn-Erik Mamelund, Joana Maria Correia Amaro, Sílvia Jesus da Silva Fraga & Teresa Isabel Costa Leão (2025): “Be Mothers as if we Were not Workers, Be Workers as if we Were not Mothers”: A Qualitative Study on Parenthood’s Impact on Careers and Well-Being. In: Journal of Family Issues, S. 1-33. DOI:10.1177/0192513x251400278

Abstract

"Parenthood challenges work–life balance, particularly where traditional gender norms persist. Despite policy advancements, disparities in income and career progression remain, with mothers disproportionately assuming childcare and household responsibilities. This study explored the impact of parenthood on professional and personal life through thirty semi-structured interviews with Portuguese mothers and fathers living in Portugal and seven other European countries. Thematic content analysis revealed a dual narrative shaped by gender norms and country contexts. Women perceived motherhood as a career barrier, with some reducing work hours or leaving the workforce to become primary caregivers. In contrast, men assumed the breadwinner role by increasing workloads. Parenthood also had gendered health implications: women, particularly in Portugal, experienced anxiety and guilt, whereas men described physical health effects. The findings underscore how parenthood perpetuates gender disparities, highlighting the need for equitable parental leave policies and workplace reforms that support caregiving responsibilities for both mothers and fathers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Moroni, Gloria, Cheti Nicoletti, Kjell G. Salvanes & Emma Tominey (2025): Gender Equality Through Marriage. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 18288), Bonn, 40 S., App.

Abstract

"We revisit the economic effects of marriage, analysing its heterogeneous impact on the intra-household labour division following childbirth. Can marriage promote coordination of work and child activities between parents and a gender egalitarian division of labour? Using a marginal treatment effect framework, we find the average effect of marriage is to increase parental specialization and worsen the mother's child penalty. However, we find differences across couples with varying resistance to marriage. While traditional couples (low-resistance) exhibit increased specialization; in modern couples (high-resistance) fathers have an earnings penalty and take more paternity leave, suggesting more coordination and gender equality." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Morosow, Kathrin & Marika Jalovaara (2025): Single and partnered mothers’ labor market consequences of long family leave. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-22. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2025.2535739

Abstract

"This study examines the heterogenous labor market effects of family leave policies for single and partnered mothers. Longer family leave has been shown to weaken women’s labor market positions and some studies have found heterogenous effects across population groups. However, whether the effect differs by partnership status remains unexplored. Using Finnish register data from 1989 to 2014 (ca. 2.5 million person-years) and controlling for selection into single motherhood by comparing estimates from OLS and FE models, this study compares single and partnered mothers’ unemployment and earnings consequent to extended family leaves. In line with predictions that single mothers may face greater work-family reconciliation issues or cumulative disadvantage leading to greater labor market penalties, the results showed that longer leave increases the length of unemployment for single mothers more than for partnered ones. This is not solely because of selection into single motherhood. Earnings penalties after family leave (net of employment status) are the same for single and partnered mothers. We conclude that similar long- lengths of family leave are penalized more among single mothers in terms of employment, which increases and reproduces social inequalities. This means that existing inequalities are reinforced by labor market absences supported by leave policies." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Narazani, Edlira, Ana Agúndez García, Michael Christl & Francesco Figari (2025): Increased childcare to promote mothers’ employment in selected EU countries. In: Journal of Policy Modeling, Jg. 47, H. 3, S. 492-511. DOI:10.1016/j.jpolmod.2024.12.005

Abstract

"This paper provides evidence of the maternal labor supply effects of increased childcare availability in a set of EU Member States based on the behavioural microsimulation model EUROLAB, that uses a labor market equilibrium model to encompass the demand side. Our findings indicate that achieving higher childcare participation rates would result in an overall increase in the labor supply of mothers with children below 3, with variations across countries. Furthermore, the labor demand side moderates slightly the final employment effect, but employment is still expected to rise substantially vis a vis the baseline situation. In countries like Hungary and Poland, where formal childcare and female labor participation are low, the expected impact on employment is likely to be higher. Conversely, in countries like Portugal the changes in employment are more modest. These findings indicate that universal, one-size-fits-all targets may not be efficient in the EU, given significant variations across countries in terms of labor market participation and childcare systems. Thus, tailored childcare policies that account for country-specific contexts within the EU are recommended." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 The Society for Policy Modeling. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.) ((en))

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Neimanns, Erik & Antonella Faggin (2025): Zugangshürden zu Betreuung im Kita- und Grundschulalter trotz Rechtsanspruch. (Studie / Deutsches Institut für interdisziplinäre Sozialpolitikforschung 2025,05), Duisburg ; Bremen, 70 S.

Abstract

"In den vergangenen Jahren wurden in Deutschland Betreuungsplätze für Kinder im Kita- und Grundschulalter in bemerkenswertem Umfang ausgebaut. Bundesweite Rechtsansprüche auf einen Betreuungsplatz waren dabei ein zentrales Instrument, um den Platzausbau in den Bundesländern und Kommunen zu beschleunigen. Nichtsdestotrotz deckt das Platzangebot in vielen Regionen nach wie vor nicht die vorhandenen Bedarfe und insbesondere sozioökonomisch schlechter gestellte Familien sind in der Betreuungsnutzung unterrepräsentiert. In dieser Studie untersuchen wir das Ausmaß an Zugangshürden zu Betreuung in den einzelnen Bundesländern und auf kommunaler Ebene für das Land Nordrhein-Westfalen. Unsere Auswertung von Befragungsdaten und weiteren Indikatoren verdeutlicht eine beträchtliche Variation in den Bestimmungsfaktoren für eine Betreuungsnutzung zwischen den Bundesländern. Wir diskutieren verschiedene Elemente der Regulierung und Finanzierung von Betreuung, die helfen können, die gefundene Variation zu erklären. Insgesamt verdeutlichen unsere Befunde, dass trotz verabschiedeter Rechtsansprüche auf Betreuung zusätzliche Reformen erforderlich sind, um bessere Bildungs- und Teilhabechancen von Kindern und eine bessere Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie bundesweit erreichen zu können." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Nishimura, Tomo (2025): Effects of fathers’ nonstandard work schedules on childcare time. In: Community, work & family, S. 1-21. DOI:10.1080/13668803.2025.2549785

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Nivakoski, Sanna & Marianna Baggio (2025): Unpaid care in the EU. (Eurofound research report / European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions), Dublin, 80 S. DOI:10.2806/5774709

Abstract

"As countries face increasing pressure when it comes to providing care services, unpaid caregivers make an invaluable contribution. Care is needed at all ages of life, particularly when individuals face health issues or disabilities. The majority of care is provided within families, without financial compensation. This report investigates the situation of unpaid carers, focusing on their characteristics and the type of care and support they provide. It also looks at their time-use patterns, their well-being and the challenges they encounter. The report analyses how unpaid caregivers are defined across the EU and examines national-level policies aimed at supporting them. While the analysis covers all unpaid carers, including those providing childcare and long-term care, a specific focus is placed on two groups: young caregivers and those providing multiple types of unpaid care." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Noa, Israeli, Gelbgiser Dafna & Stier Haya (2025): The gendered division of paid labour among families of children with disabilities: a comparative approach. In: European Societies, S. 1-45. DOI:10.1162/euso.a.83

Abstract

"Having a child with a disability intensifies work-family conflict due to the additional caregiving demands. Prior research suggests that this conflict reinforces more traditional patterns of labour division in families of children with disabilities (FOCD), contributing to a well-documented ‘disability penalty’, where mothers' relative contribution to paid labour is lower in FOCD than in other families. Yet, it remains unclear whether and how the disability penalty is shaped by family and FOCD-specific policies. We shed light on this association by analysing data from the 2021 European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EUSILC) data from four European countries that differ in their family policies frameworks: Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland. Our findings suggest that the interplay of family policies and prevailing gender norms may shape the extent of the disability penalty, with crossnational variations in the differences between FOCD and non-FOCD in their gendered division of paid labour. A significant disability penalty is observed only in Poland, a country marked by minimal, means-tested support for FOCD alongside expectations of full-time employment for both parents. In contrast, in Finland, Spain, and the Netherlands, the disability penalty is either negligible or statistically non-significant. These results highlight the importance of a comparative perspective in understanding the disability penalty and highlights the role of family policies in shaping labour market outcomes for FOCD. Findings offer valuable insights for policymakers addressing the challenges faced by FOCD across Europe." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Oesch, Daniel, Oliver Lipps, Roujman Shahbazian, Erik Bihagen & Katy Morris (2025): Occupational earning potential: a new measure of social hierarchy in Europe and the US. In: European Sociological Review, S. 1-21. DOI:10.1093/esr/jcaf035

Abstract

"Social stratification is interested in unequal life chances and assumes the existence of a hierarchy of more or less advantageous occupations. Yet occupations are not easily translated into a linear hierarchical measure. Influential scales combine multiple indicators and lack intuitive interpretation. We therefore present a new scale based on occupations’ earnings potential (OEP). OEP measures the median earnings of occupations and expresses them as percentiles of the overall earnings structure: if mechanics earn the national median wage, their OEP is 50. We construct national OEP scales using annual microdata pooled over several decades for Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US. Consistent with the Treiman constant, these national scales are highly correlated over time and across countries, justifying the use of one common OEP scale. When applied to another European dataset, the common OEP scale explains a quarter of the variance in earnings—and works as well for men as women and as well for countries used to construct the scale as for other countries. Moreover, it is associated with the causes (education) and consequences (social mobility) that the theory expects. OEP thereby provides a simple and parsimonious indicator of economic advantage that can be meaningfully interpreted." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Olsson, Jonna (2025): Singles, Couples, and Their Labor Supply: Long-Run Trends and Short-Run Fluctuations. In: American Economic Journal. Macroeconomics, Jg. 17, H. 1, S. 1-34. DOI:10.1257/mac.20200449

Abstract

"Women's increased involvement in the economy has been an important change in labor markets during the past century. I show that a macroeconomic model taking into account gender and household composition in an otherwise parsimonious off-the-shelf setting captures key historical labor supply facts regarding trend and volatility across subgroups. Evaluating the economy's response to aggregate shocks at different points in time shows that the underlying trend growth in married women's employment contributed to the perceived quick employment recoveries after recessions before 1990, and the absence of growth thereafter consequently helps explain the more recent slower recoveries." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Ong, Pinchuan (2025): The Effect of Child Support on Fathers’ Labor Supply. In: Journal of labor economics. DOI:10.1086/740192

Abstract

"Child support frequently increases with the noncustodial fathers’ incomes. I study the effect on their work incentives. For identification, I exploit the end of child support when the children involved reach emancipation age. Empirically, child support paid drops to near zero on emancipation; fathers correspondingly increase their work hours and annual earnings. Formally, each 10 percentage point increase in the child support rate leads to an 8–11 percent decrease in labor supply conditional on working. I find weaker extensive margin responses. In a structural model, I map these estimates to the intertemporal elasticity of labor supply (Frisch elasticity)." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Osso, Katia & Michael Halinski (2025): The dark side of work-life policies: the influence of co-workers taking childcare leave on work anxiety. In: Career Development International, Jg. 30, H. 2, S. 125-138. DOI:10.1108/cdi-04-2023-0098

Abstract

"Purpose: While work-life policies (WLPs) are tools that employees may draw on to better manage and balance their work and life demands, there is growing evidence that suggests the usage of WLPs may negatively impact other employees. Drawing from the theory of role dynamics and social role theory, we examine the indirect effect of co-workers taking childcare leave (CTCL) on work anxiety via work-role overload, as well as the impact of gender on this indirect relationship. Design/methodology/Approach: We used Prolific Academic to recruit 236 employees to participate in a three-wave study. These data were analyzed as a hypothesized structural equation modelling (SEM) using SPSS AMOS. Findings: Findings reveal: (1) CTCL positively relates to work anxiety via work-role overload, and (2) gender moderates this indirect effect such that this positive relationship is stronger for men than women. Practical implications: Work-life policy makers should take note of the “hidden costs” associated with work-life policy usage on other employees. Managers should work with policy users to mitigate the negative effects of policy usage on others. Originality/value: In contrast to broader WLP research, which focuses on the benefits of policy usage on the policy user, this research shows the negative implications of work-life policies on others’ work anxiety via work-role overload. In doing so, it becomes the first study to showcase a crossover effect of CTCL on employees’ work anxiety." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Emerald Group) ((en))

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Palladino, Marco G., Antoine Bertheau, Alexander Hijzen, Astrid Kunze, César Barreto, Dogan Gülümser, Marta Lachowska, Anne Sophie Lassen, Salvatore Lattanzio, Benjamin Lochner, Stefano Lombardi, Jordy Meekes, Balázs Muraközy & Oskar Nordström Skans (2025): Firms and the Gender Wage Gap: A Comparison of Eleven Countries. (VATT working papers / Valtion Taloudellinen Tutkimuskeskus (Helsinki) 181), Helsinki, 82 S.

Abstract

"We quantify the role of gender-specific firm wage premiums in explaining the private-sector gender gap in hourly wages using a harmonized research design across 11 matched employer-employee datasets of ten European countries and Washington State, USA. These premiums contribute to the gender wage gap through two channels: women's concentration in lower-paying firms (sorting) and women receiving lower premiums than men within the same firm (pay-setting). We find that firm wage premiums account for 10 to 30 percent of the gender wage gap. While both mechanisms matter, sorting is the predominant driver of the firm contribution to the gender wage gap in most countries. We document three patterns that are broadly consistent across countries: (1) women's sorting into lower-paying firms increases with age; (2)women are more concentrated in low-paying firms with a high share of part-time workers; and (3) women receive about 90 percent of the rents that men receive from firm surplus gains." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Parry, Ashley (2025): The flexibility paradox and spatial-temporal dimensions of COVID-19 remote work adaptation among dual-earner mothers and fathers. In: Gender, work & organization, Jg. 32, H. 1, S. 15-36. DOI:10.1111/gwao.13130

Abstract

"There is an increased blurring of work and home life in contemporary society due to access to technology and the mass expansion of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Flexible working arrangements like remote work can lead to men self-exploiting themselves in the workplace and women self-exploiting themselves in the domestic sphere in the context of a work-centric society that is reliant upon passion at work and traditional gender norms. This study extends Chung's ideas on gendered patterns in the flexibility paradox by examining spatial-temporal dimensions of COVID-19 remote work adaptation among an extreme sample: dual-earner parents with young children. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on Zoom with 20 mothers and 17 fathers working from home in the U.S. with children ages 5 and under between the summer of 2020 and the spring of 2021. Findings indicate that fathers' work is prioritized in spatio-temporal terms whereas mothers' work is fragmented and dispersed. Gendered patterns in the flexibility paradox and labor shouldered by mothers as primary caregivers are considered as potential theoretical explanations for the privileging of fathers' workspace and work time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Pasanen, Tiia-Maria, Satu Helske, Giovanni Amerigo Giuliani, Simon N. Chapman & Jouni Helske (2025): Adaptation to paternal leave policies in Finnish municipalities: changing gender norms and cross-border policy legacies. In: European Societies, S. 1-27. DOI:10.1162/euso.a.43

Abstract

"Countries where public opinion tends to favour gender equality tend to invest in policies supporting the dual-earner family model or the earner–carer family model, while countries where public opinion is more inclined to support conservative gender norms tend to have policies supporting the male breadwinner family model. However, even though gender equality norms may be endorsed by the majority of the population, conservative norms could still be largely supported at the sub-national level, potentially leading to lower responses to policy reforms intending to boost gender-equal practices. This study examines shifting norms in fathers’ parental leave uptake in Finnish municipalities in the 2010s, around a reform that gave fathers an independent right to a 6-week quota of “solo” parental leave. We applied a Bayesian spatio-temporal model on administrative data from Finnish municipalities and approximated local norms based on voting data. We also used the proportion of Swedish-speaking residents as a proxy for cross-border policy influences from the neighbouring country Sweden, where paternal leave-taking has been practiced longer. Local support to de-familialising policies was found to predict higher leavetaking, but only under a less supportive policy configuration. The proportion of Swedish-speaking residents was found to be increasingly important for predicting paternal leave-taking. We interpret this as a sign of cross-border influences from Sweden. Interestingly, uptake increased the fastest in a more conservative region, probably due to its strong linguistic and cultural links to Sweden. Furthermore, we observed spatial dependencies between neighbouring municipalities, which supports our spillover hypothesis; that interactions among families nearby lead them to adopt new practices." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Pavolini, Emmanuele, Elisa Brini & Stefani Scherer (2025): The Elephant in the Family Policy Room: How Care Culture Influences the Effects of Public Childcare on Women’s Labor Market Participation in Europe. In: Social indicators research, Jg. 180, H. 3, S. 1619-1637. DOI:10.1007/s11205-025-03719-2

Abstract

"This paper examines how cultural contexts influence the extent to which policies aimed at supporting women’s employment and gender equality achieve their objectives. More specifically, it addresses how the availability of formal public childcare services for children under the age of three and their expansion support women’s labour market participation in different cultural contexts. Few studies have examined cultural and structural factors together. The study integrates individual-level data from the European Social Survey on women’s employment and their attitudes with time-varying regional-level information from statistical offices on public early childhood education and care (ECEC) provision and information on gender care culture obtained from different waves of the European Values Study. We find that increasing the availability of ECEC is particularly effective in promoting women’s full-time employment and women’s labour market participation in contexts where traditional cultural values regarding gendered care prevail. The results appear to be independent of individual attitudes. The paper highlights the interaction between structural and cultural factors in shaping employment behaviour and suggests that the outcomes of social policy interventions, such as the expansion of ECEC, are strongly influenced by cultural contexts, although not necessarily in the expected direction." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Pepin, Joanna R. & William J. Scarborough (2025): What Makes a Decision Fair? Relative Earnings, Gender, and Justifications for Couples’ Decision-Making. In: American journal of sociology, Jg. 130, H. 6, S. 1435-1476. DOI:10.1086/735618

Abstract

"This article builds on research demonstrating that inequality is widely accepted when it resultsfrom practices that are perceived to be fair. Using a survey experiment on a nationally representative sample of US adults (n = 3,978), the study adds new insight into the mechanisms that sustain gender inequality in relationships. Findings show that Americans’ beliefs About gender are relied on more often than economic explanations to diminish concerns aboutunfairness in decision-making. Respondents were more likely to view decisions as fair when made by women, even though respondents often drew on seemingly gender-neutral allocationrules to justify decision-making. Topic modeling of open-ended explanations also exposed howbeliefs about gender are incorporated into fairness perceptions in ways that sustain men’sauthority. The authors argue that the empirical patterns underpinning subjective perceptions offairness are fundamental to understanding the persistence of inequality in gendered divisions ofcognitive, emotional, and domestic labor." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Pepin, Gabrielle (2025): The Effects of Child Care Subsidies on Paid Child Care Participation and Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from the Child and Dependent Care Credit. In: ILR review, Jg. 78, H. 4, S. 645-666. DOI:10.1177/00197939251329844

Abstract

"The Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC), a tax credit based on income and child care expenses, reduces child care costs for working families. The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act expanded the CDCC in 2003, generating differential increases in generosity across states and family sizes. Using data from the March Current Population Survey, the author finds that a $100 increase in CDCC generosity increases paid child care participation by 0.6 percentage points among single mothers and 2.2 percentage points among married mothers with children younger than 13 years old. The author also finds that CDCC benefits increase labor supply among married mothers, who may experience long-run earnings gains. Results suggest large returns on investment to expanding the CDCC for secondary earners but that single and low-income mothers may benefit more from other programs." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Pereda-Fernández, Santiago (2025): Decomposition of Differences in Distribution under Sample Selection and the Gender Wage Gap. In: Journal of Business and Economic Statistics, Jg. 43, H. 2, S. 378-390. DOI:10.1080/07350015.2024.2385823

Abstract

"I address the decomposition of the differences between the distribution of outcomes of two groups when individuals self-select themselves into participation. I differentiate between the decomposition for participants and the entire population, highlighting how the primitive components of the model affect each of the distributions of outcomes. Additionally, I introduce two ancillary decompositions that help uncover the sources of differences in the distribution of unobservables and participation between the two groups. The estimation is done using existing quantile regression methods, for which I show how to perform uniformly valid inference. I illustrate these methods by revisiting the gender wage gap, finding that changes in female participation and self-selection have been the main drivers for reducing the gap." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Peters, Eileen & Anja-Kristin Abendroth (2025): Gender Ideologies and Workplace Diversity Policies: Are Voluntary Women’s Quotas and Mentoring Programs Associated with Employees’ Gender Ideologies? In: Work, Employment and Society, Jg. 39, H. 5, S. 1201-1224. DOI:10.1177/09500170251336989

Abstract

"Following policy feedback theory, this article argues that normative policy feedback mechanisms also operate at the workplace level, where employees are expected to adapt their beliefs to the specific policy context in which they are embedded. Specifically, it considers employees’ gender ideologies and their association with two prominent workplace-level diversity policies: voluntary women’s quotas and mentoring programs. Partial proportional odds models are estimated employing a unique German linked employer–employee dataset (2018/19) incorporating 2445 employees and 82 workplaces. Findings indicate that voluntary women’s quotas implemented in workplaces are associated with more egalitarian gender ideologies among employees. This clear pattern was not detected for mentoring programs. No gender differences were discovered, suggesting that normative policy feedback effects in the workplace are present equally among women and men. In conclusion, the findings indicate that policy feedback mechanisms operate not only at the national but also at the workplace level." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Peters, Vinzenz, Susanne Schlepphorst & Rosemarie Kay (2025): Selbstständige Handwerkerinnen als (werdende) Mütter – Ergebnisse einer NRW-weiten Befragung. (IfM-Materialien / Institut für Mittelstandsforschung Bonn 311), Bonn, 46 S.

Abstract

"Diese Studie richtet sich auf die beruflichen Folgen der Schwanger- und Mutterschaft von selbstständigen Handwerkerinnen in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Die Befunde zeigen, dass die Mehrheit der Handwerkerinnen, die während der Selbstständigkeit Mutter geworden sind, keine Form von Lohnersatzleistungen aus der gesetzlichen oder privaten Krankenversicherung in Anspruch genommen hat – aus Unwissenheit ob dieser Möglichkeit. Obwohl ein großer Teil der Handwerkerinnen erst kurz vor der Geburt die Arbeit ruhen lässt und diese zeitnah nach der Geburt wieder aufnimmt, erleiden sie deutliche Einbußen beim Umsatz und damit in ihrem Einkommen. Dies ist den notwendigen organisatorischen Maßnahmen rund um die Geburt geschuldet, vornehmlich weil sie ihre Arbeitszeit reduzieren, teils Aufträge ablehnen oder das Unternehmen vorüberhegend ruhen lassen bzw. schließen (müssen). Darüber hinaus führen die Handwerkerinnen in vielen Fällen Tätigkeiten aus, die abhängig Beschäftigten im Rahmen des Mutterschutzgesetzes untersagt wären. Die Mehrheit der selbstständigen Handwerkerinnen hält die E" (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Petts, Richard J., Reilly Kincaid, Trenton D. Mize & Gayle Kaufman (2025): Gone too long or back too soon? Perceptions of paid parental leave‐taking and variations by gender and family structure. In: Journal of Marriage and Family, Jg. 87, H. 5, S. 1865-1888. DOI:10.1111/jomf.13101

Abstract

"Objective: This study examines perceptions of paid leave-taking itself and variations in these perceptions by parent gender, sexual orientation, and marital status. Background: Previous research largely focuses on the consequences associated with leave-taking, particularly highlighting workplace penalties associated with leave-taking. There has also been limited attention to workers with diverse family forms. We seek to better understand the culture surrounding paid parental leave in the U.S. by focusing on evaluations of leave-taking itself and whether such evaluations may reduce or exacerbate inequalities by gender, sexual orientation, and marital status. Method: We use data on 2964 U.S. respondents from a survey experiment in which employer-offered paid parental leave-taking, parent gender, sexual orientation, and marital status were randomly assigned. We use OLS models to assess perceptions of paid leave-taking and the causal effects of parent gender, sexual orientation, and marital status on these perceptions. Results: We find that respondents view 11 weeks of paid parental leave as the right amount of leave, on average. We also find variations in perceptions of leave-taking by parent gender, sexual orientation, and marital status; mothers with husbands and single parents are viewed more favorably for taking longer leaves than fathers with wives, mothers with wives, and fathers with husbands. Conclusion: There is increasing support for paid leave within the U.S., but support for parents' leave-taking largely reflects gendered stereotypes and may reinforce broader patterns of gender inequality." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Petts, Richard J., Daniel L. Carlson & Chris Knoester (2025): Paternity leave-taking and US Fathers’ participation in housework. In: Journal of Social Policy, S. 1-24. DOI:10.1017/s0047279425100901

Abstract

"Paternity leave may promote greater gender equality in domestic labor. Though numerous studies show that paternity leave promotes greater fathers ’ involvement in childcare, less is known about whether paternity leave-taking may facilitate fathers’ involvement in other forms of domestic labor such as housework. Using repeated cross-sectional data on different-gender partnered US parents from the Study on Parents’ Divisions of Labor During COVID-19 (SPDLC), this study examines the extent to which paternity leave-taking and length of paternity leave are associated with US fathers’ shares of, and time spent on, housework. Findings suggest that paternity leave-taking is positively associated with fathers’ shares of, and time spent on, housework tasks. Longer paternity leaves are also associated with fathers performing greater shares of housework. Overall, this study indicates that the benefits of paternity leave likely extend to fathers’ greater participation in housework, providing additional support for the belief that increased use of paternity leave may help to promote gender equality in domestic labor." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Pfahl, Svenja, Eugen Unrau & Yvonne Lott (2025): Stand der Gleichstellung von Frauen und Männern in Deutschland in ausgewählten Branchen. (WSI-Report 102), Düsseldorf, 74 S.

Abstract

"Wie einheitlich oder unterschiedlich vollzieht sich die Gleichstellung von Frauen und Männern in den verschiedenen Branchen auf dem deutschen Arbeitsmarkt in Hinblick auf Erwerbsarbeitszeit, Entgelt oder Erwerbsform? Anhand zentraler Indikatoren auf Basis des WSI GenderDatenPortals liefert der vorliegende Report eine zusammenfassende Übersicht über den aktuellen Stand der Geschlechtergleichstellung in Deutschland, differenziert nach Einzelbranchen aus dem Produktions- und Dienstleistungsbereich. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Geschlechterungleichheit insbesondere in Hinblick auf die Erwerbsarbeitszeitdauer und das Entgelt über (fast) alle Branchen hinweg fortbesteht. Die detaillierte branchenbezogene Betrachtung zeigt zudem, dass bei einer Vielzahl von einzelnen Arbeitsmerkmalen Unterschiede zwischen Frauen und Männern bestehen (z. B. bei Befristung, Teilzeitarbeit, überlanger Vollzeit, Tätigkeit als Helfer*in, Entgelten im unteren Entgeltbereich, Existenzsicherung durch eigenes Erwerbseinkommen, ausschließlicher Tätigkeit im Minijob), die in einigen Branchen deutlich stärker ausgeprägt sind als in anderen. Hierbei fallen besonders sieben Produktionsbranchen und neun Dienstleistungsbranchen auf, die sich durch deutliche Geschlechterabstände (dem Abstand in Prozentpunkten zwischen Frauen und Männern in Hinblick auf ein einzelnes Arbeitsmerkmal) kennzeichnen und in einer Mehrheit von Arbeitsmerkmalen eine verstärkt ungünstige Situation für Frauen aufweisen. Gegenüber dem Vergleichsjahr 2021 weisen 2023 insgesamt mehr Branchen einen deutlichen, zweistelligen Geschlechterabstand für mindestens die Hälfte aller Arbeitsmerkmale auf. Gleichzeitig zeigen sich für eine Reihe von Branchen auch punktuelle Verringerungen des Geschlechterabstandes, gerade bei den Indikatoren zur Lage der Arbeitszeit sowie der Existenzsicherung durch eigene Erwerbsarbeit." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Piolatto, Matteo, Marija Bashevska, Olga Leshchenko, Chantal Remery & Susanne Strauss (2025): The gendered division of housework in times of Covid-19: the role of essential worker status and work location. In: Journal of family studies, S. 1-20. DOI:10.1080/13229400.2025.2526468

Abstract

"The question whether the measures taken to curb the spread of Covid-19 exacerbated or reduced gender inequality with respect to the division of housework and childcare has initiated a large number of studies. This study adds to this field by investigating the role of an until now underexposed yet important element in the literature on the pandemic, which is the assignment of an essential worker status for one or two partners of a couple. Drawing on resource theory, we formulate different hypotheses on how an essential worker status impacts the gendered division of housework during the early phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in dual-earner opposite-sex couples. In addition, as essential work was often, but not always done on-site, we use the time availability perspective to formulate hypotheses on how the impact of being assigned the essential work status interacts with remote-work. We investigate these research questions in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands using household longitudinal panel data from UKHLS and COGIS-LISS, applying panel fixed effects models. The results suggest that having an essential occupation is a resource for women but not men to renegotiate the division of housework. This is particularly the case when one or both partners can work from home." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Poli, Silvia De (2025): Can Dad Take Over? Effects of Paternity Leave on Relationship Stability and Employment. (FBK-IRVAPP working paper / Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Research Institute for the Evaluation of Public Policies 2025-03), Trient, 31 S.

Abstract

"This paper assesses how extending paternity leave duration in Spain affects labour market outcomes and relationship stability. By combining administrative data from different sources, this study provides both descriptive and causal evidence of the effectiveness of the reform. First, we show that having a child substantially increases the gender employment gap between fathers and mothers by about 20 percentage points. Yet, between 2016 and 2021, when the duration of paternity leave gradually increased from two to sixteen weeks, this gap decreased by five percentage points. Second, using a regression discontinuity design, we analyse the causal effect of the 2018 reform, which introduced an additional week of leave for fathers that, for the first time, could be taken independently of the mother's leave. Although we do not find robust evidence of an effect on the labour market, we show that the reform increased the stability of the relationship among couples where the mother was employed before childbirth. From a policy perspective, our findings suggest that extending paternity leave could have important implications in balancing family responsibilities and mitigating relationship conflicts." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Portier, Camille (2025): Occupational autonomy, paid maternity leave, and mothers' return to work after childbirth. In: Journal of Marriage and Family, Jg. 87, H. 4, S. 1571-1595. DOI:10.1111/jomf.13089

Abstract

"Objective: This study formulates and tests a resource substitution hypothesis, examining whether mothers rely more on occupational autonomy to balance work and childrearing when paid maternity leave is unavailable. Background: The tension between working for pay and caring for young children is crucial to understanding women's employment trajectories, especially in the United States, with its limited formal support for mothers around childbirth. In this context, occupational characteristics such as autonomy may serve as an important resource for working women to draw upon during the transition to motherhood. Method: Using data from the first 19 rounds of the NLSY97 (N = 1813) and the O*NET, the author estimates logistic models and discrete‐time event history models to consider the relationship between occupational autonomy, use of paid leave, and whether and when mothers come back to work after childbirth. Results: The results highlight the nature of autonomy as a valuable resource in the transition back to work and confirm the resource substitution hypothesis. Mothers in occupations with greater autonomy are not only more likely to return to work after childbirth but also do so more promptly, particularly in the absence of paid leave. Conclusion: These findings are significant, given the enduring impact of post‐childbirth career breaks and the limited access to paid leave in the United States. They underscore the potential of occupational autonomy in mitigating the adverse effects of motherhood on career progression and in reducing disparities among mothers across various labor market sectors." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Raiber, Klara (2025): Fostering Skills and Relief: Positive Spillover Effects Between Unpaid Caregiving and Paid Work. In: Journal of Aging & Social Policy, S. 1-17. DOI:10.1080/08959420.2025.2561425

Abstract

"With the expected rise in unpaid caregiving, many caregivers will have to combine care with employment. While most research finds negative spillovers between caregiving and employment, it is crucial to understand the factors under which caregiving has positive spillover effects. Analyzing Dutch retrospective data from the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social science (3,543 caregiving situations of 2,042 caregivers), this study examined how factors from the work environment and the caregiving situation are related to two positive spillovers, namely learned skills from caregiving for paid work and employment being a relief from caregiving. Results from multilevel models show that a working environment with high flexibility compared to no flexibility was related to more skill learning and relief. Further, we found that more understanding of managers and colleagues was related to learning skills, while managers and colleagues knowing about caregiving was linked to feeling relief. More diverse caregiving tasks were associated with more skills learned for paid work and more relief felt. These findings can guide state or firm-based policies to not only prevent negative but also foster positive spillovers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Ramos, Vincent Jerald, Michaela Kreyenfeld, Enrique Alonso-Perez, Paul Gellert, Jan Paul Heisig & Julie Lorraine O’Sullivan (2025): Future Caregiving Responsibilities, Employment Uncertainties, and Expected Childbearing Behavior: Survey Experimental Evidence from Germany. In: Population Research and Policy Review, Jg. 44, H. 5. DOI:10.1007/s11113-025-09969-9

Abstract

"In societies experiencing declining birth rates, understanding factors that influence childbearing decisions is of interest. We used a factorial survey experiment to investigate how scenarios of future caregiving responsibilities toward aging parents and employment uncertainties shape the expected childbearing behavior of a fictitious couple. Respondents from the nationally representative German Socio-Economic Panel Innovation Sample (SOEP-IS) (n = 1,750) were randomly assigned to five vignettes, each describing a hypothetical couple with varying levels of caregiving responsibilities towards an aging parent and employment uncertainties. Respondents subsequently rated their expectations about the hypothetical couple’s childbearing behavior within the next three years using an 11-point scale. Results show that high caregiving responsibilities and dual employment uncertainties reduce expected childbearing behavior by 2.8 and 1.9 units respectively, compared to when these are absent. The negative effect of high caregiving responsibilities is more pronounced among women, while respondents ’ own caregiving and employment experiences do not moderate these effects. These results demonstrate how both future-oriented caregiving responsibilities and employment uncertainties alter expectations about family formation and highlight the scenarios that are regarded as more or less favorable for childbearing." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Rausch, Johannes (2025): Women and Part-Time Workers: Saviors of Social Insurance Systems? (MEA discussion papers / Munich Center for the Economics of Aging 2025,10), München, 25 S.

Abstract

"This study assesses the fiscal effects of mobilizing underutilized labor market potential of women and part-time workers on pay-as-you-go social insurance systems in times of demographic aging. Aging implies a decreasing working-age population relative to the number of beneficiaries of social insurance, especially pensions, healthcare and long-term care. Hence, increasing labor force participation of women and hours of labor supply by part-timers in countries, where female labor force participation is low and part-time employment high are obvious candidates to compensate for this loss. This paper shows that matters are not that simple. Beneficial effects on the contribution rate to social insurance are different between adding workers and adding hours and depend on the link between wages and benefits. The study uses Germany as an example. It shows that increasing female labor force participation has only a modest impact, as the gender gap in participation rates has largely closed. Even between extreme scenarios, the difference in contribution rates across all insurance schemes would not exceed one percentage point. Reducing Germany’s high share of part-time employment has greater potential to relieve financial pressures, but primarily in health and long-term care insurance. If part-time work in Germany were lowered to the Swedish level, the combined contribution rate for these schemes would rise by about 1.2 percentage points less, assuming no adverse effects on health or informal care. In contrast, the pension contribution rate remains largely unaffected. That is because the shift from part-time to full-time work raises annual earnings and therefore overall wage growth, which under Germany’s pension adjustment mechanism translates almost one-to-one into higher pension benefits. The gains from additional labor therefore primarily accrue to pension recipients rather than reducing the financial burden on all contributors." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))