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The Labor Supply Effects of Delayed First Birth

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  • Jane Leber Herr

Abstract

In this paper I compare the relationship between first-birth timing and post-birth labor supply for high school and college graduate mothers. Given that pre-birth wages are increasing in fertility delay, the rising opportunity cost of time would suggest that among both groups, later mothers work more. Yet I only find this pattern for high school graduates. For college graduates, I instead find that there is a strong U-shaped pattern between hours worked within motherhood, and the career timing of first birth.

Suggested Citation

  • Jane Leber Herr, 2015. "The Labor Supply Effects of Delayed First Birth," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(5), pages 630-637, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:105:y:2015:i:5:p:630-37
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20151119
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Angrist, Joshua D & Evans, William N, 1998. "Children and Their Parents' Labor Supply: Evidence from Exogenous Variation in Family Size," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 88(3), pages 450-477, June.
    2. David Shapiro & Frank L. Mott, 1994. "Long-Term Employment and Earnings of Women in Relation to Employment Behavior Surrounding the First Birth," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 29(2), pages 248-275.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chabé-Ferret, Bastien, 2019. "Adherence to cultural norms and economic incentives: Evidence from fertility timing decisions," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 24-48.
    2. Goldin, Claudia & Kerr, Sari Pekkala & Olivetti, Claudia, 2024. "The parental pay gap over the life cycle: Children, jobs, and labor supply," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    3. Matthew Wiswall & Basit Zafar, 2021. "Human Capital Investments and Expectations about Career and Family," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(5), pages 1361-1424.
    4. Ömer Limanlı, 2015. "Gender Based Wage Gap in Turkey," EY International Congress on Economics II (EYC2015), November 5-6, 2015, Ankara, Turkey 22, Ekonomik Yaklasim Association.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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