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Public Policies, Women's Employment after Childbearing, and Child Well-Being

Author

Listed:
  • Washbrook Elizabeth

    (Univeristy of Bristol)

  • Ruhm Christopher J

    (University of Virginia)

  • Waldfogel Jane

    (Columbia University)

  • Han Wen-Jui

    (Columbia University)

Abstract

In this paper, we consider three U.S. public policies that potentially influence the work decisions of mothers of infants—parental leave laws, exemptions from welfare work requirements, and child care subsidies for low-income families. We estimate the effects of these policies on the timing of work participation after birth, and on a range of outcomes in the subsequent four years, using a group difference-in-difference technique suitable for analysis of cross-sectional data. We find that the three policies affect early maternal work participation, but obtain no evidence of significant consequences for child well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Washbrook Elizabeth & Ruhm Christopher J & Waldfogel Jane & Han Wen-Jui, 2011. "Public Policies, Women's Employment after Childbearing, and Child Well-Being," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 11(1), pages 1-50, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:11:y:2011:i:1:n:43
    DOI: 10.2202/1935-1682.2938
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Chris Herbst & Erdal Tekin, 2012. "Child Care Subsidies, Maternal Well-Being, and Child-Parent Interactions: Evidence from Three Nationally Representative Datasets," Working Papers 1372, Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Research on Child Wellbeing..
    2. Herbst, Chris M., 2014. "Are Parental Welfare Work Requirements Good for Disadvantaged Children? Evidence from Age-of-Youngest-Child Exemptions," IZA Discussion Papers 8485, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Rossin-Slater, Maya, 2017. "Maternity and Family Leave Policy," IZA Discussion Papers 10500, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. repec:pri:crcwel:wp12-01-ff is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Martha Bailey & Tanya Byker & Elena Patel & Shanthi Ramnath & Martha J. Bailey, 2024. "The Long-Run Effects of California’s Paid Family Leave Act on Women’s Careers and Childbearing: New Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design and U.S. Tax Data," CESifo Working Paper Series 10933, CESifo.
    6. Maya Rossin-Slater, 2017. "Maternity and Family Leave Policy," NBER Working Papers 23069, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Bergemann, Annette & van den Berg, Gerard J., 2008. "From Giving Birth to Paid Labor: The Effects of Adult Education for Prime-Aged Mothers," IZA Discussion Papers 3600, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. repec:pri:crcwel:wp11-20-ff is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Bailey, Martha J. & Byker, Tanya & Patel, Elena & Ramnath, Shanthi, 2024. "The Long-Run Effects of California's Paid Family Leave Act On Women's Careers and Childbearing: New Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design and U.S. Tax Data," IZA Discussion Papers 16756, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Pilarz, Alejandra Ros, 2018. "Child care subsidy programs and child care choices: Effects on the number and type of arrangements," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 160-173.
    11. Chris M. Herbst & Erdal Tekin, 2014. "Child Care Subsidies, Maternal Health, And Child–Parent Interactions: Evidence From Three Nationally Representative Datasets," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(8), pages 894-916, August.
    12. Lina Cardona-Sosa & Leonardo Morales, 2015. "Efectos laborales de los servicios de cuidado infantil: evidencia del programa Buen Comienzo," Borradores de Economia 12787, Banco de la Republica.
    13. Hau Chyi & Orgul Demet Ozturk & Weilong Zhang, 2014. "Welfare Reform And Children'S Early Cognitive Development," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 32(4), pages 729-751, October.
    14. Martha J. Bailey & Tanya S. Byker & Elena Patel & Shanthi Ramnath, 2019. "The Long-Run Effects of California’s Paid Family Leave Act on Women’s Careers and Childbearing: New Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design and U.S. Tax Data," NBER Working Papers 26416, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    15. Ross Guest & Nick Parr, 2013. "Family policy and couples’ labour supply: an empirical assessment," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 26(4), pages 1631-1660, October.
    16. Jiyoon Kim, 2018. "The Timing Of Exemptions From Welfare Work Requirements And Its Effects On Mothers' Work And Welfare Receipt Around Childbirth," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 56(1), pages 317-342, January.

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