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Women’s Education, Fertility and Children’s Health during a Gender Equalization Process: Evidence from a Child Labor Reform

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  • Cabrales, Antonio
  • Bellés-Obrero, Cristina
  • Jiménez-Martín, Sergi
  • Vall-Castello, Judit

Abstract

We study the effect of women’s education on fertility and children’s health during a period of gender equalization and women’s greater access to economic opportunities. In 1980, Spain raised the minimum working age from 14 to 16, while compulsory education age remained at 14. This reform changed the within-cohort incentives to remain in the educational system. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we find that the reform delayed fertility but did not impact completed fertility of affected women. We also show that the reform was detrimental for the health of the children’s of affected mothers at delivery. We document two channels for this negative effect: the postponement in the entrance of motherhood and the deterioration of women’s health habits (such as smoking and drinking). This last channel is a direct effect of the gender equalization process. However, in the medium run, these more educated mothers are able to reverse the negative health shocks at birth through maternal vigilance and investment in their children’s health habits.

Suggested Citation

  • Cabrales, Antonio & Bellés-Obrero, Cristina & Jiménez-Martín, Sergi & Vall-Castello, Judit, 2021. "Women’s Education, Fertility and Children’s Health during a Gender Equalization Process: Evidence from a Child Labor Reform," CEPR Discussion Papers 15752, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:15752
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jorge González Chapela & Sergi Jiménez-Martín & Judit Vall Castello, 2023. "Education and internal migration: evidence from a child labor reform in Spain," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 14(2), pages 143-164, June.
    2. Bellés-Obrero, Cristina & Duchini, Emma, 2021. "Who benefits from general knowledge?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    3. Cristina Bellés-Obrero & Sergi Jiménez-Martín & Judit Vall Castello, 2022. "Minimum working age and the gender mortality gap," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(4), pages 1897-1938, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Education; Fertility; Infant health; Gender equalization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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