This paper analyzes the effect of federal and state maternity leave policies on female employment. We analyze if the enactment of the federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) differently affected states which previously implemented maternity leave laws at the state level than those states which did not. Additionally, we study whether FMLA has provoked an increase in the female employment and labor force participation in those states which expanded its benefits and relaxed the eligibility criteria than in those which did not expand them. Finally, we analyze the Paid Family Leave program in California, comparing how the change in female employment differs from those states which have FMLA alone and those which have complemented the benefits of FMLA. Using March CPS data available from the Integrated Public Use Micro data Series (IPUMS), our results suggest that the change in female employment is positive and significant when states complement the benefits and eligibility criteria of FMLA.
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Paper provided by School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University in its series Working Papers with number
2008-15.
Find related papers by JEL classification: J48 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Particular Labor Markets; Public Policy K31 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Labor Law
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