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Children living with disabilities and mother`s labor supply in developing countries: evidence from Argentina

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  • Porto Natalia
  • Carella Laura
  • Rucci Ana Clara
  • Velazquez Cecilia

Abstract

This paper aims to estimate the effect of a child's disability on mothers' labor supply. It uses data from the 2019-20 UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) of Argentina. Four measures of disability were used: children with a functional disability (based on Washington Group criteria) - distinguishing physical (for seeing, hearing or walking) from other types of functional disability- and children with a disability certificate or pension. The results suggest that having a child with a physical disability reduces a mother's probability of participating in the labor force by 8.3 percentage points. When the child has a disability certificate or pension, the probability that a mother participates in the labor force is reduced by 13.4 percentage points. No significant effect is found for mothers of a child with a functional disability or a non-physical disability. The evidence also shows heterogeneous effects depending on the mother’s education. The disincentive to participate is present for non-graduated mothers, while the effect is not statistically significant for graduated ones. These findings are particularly relevant for policymakers in a developing country like Argentina.

Suggested Citation

  • Porto Natalia & Carella Laura & Rucci Ana Clara & Velazquez Cecilia, 2023. "Children living with disabilities and mother`s labor supply in developing countries: evidence from Argentina," Asociación Argentina de Economía Política: Working Papers 4686, Asociación Argentina de Economía Política.
    • Handle: RePEc:aep:anales:4686
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    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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