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Travail et maternité en Europe: conditions de travail et politiques publiques

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  • Jérôme De Henau
  • Leila Maron
  • Danièle Meulders
  • Sile Padraigin O'Dorchai

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyse the cost of motherhood in terms of working conditions and to measure the (positive or negative) impact of public policies on women's decisions with respect to motherhood and employment. The results show that inactivity is the main determinant of the employment gap between mothers and non-mothers. However, the impact of part-time is menthionworthly in Luxembourg, Austria, the United-Kingdom and the Netherlands. In terms of public policies, a good child care system is the most effective way to safeguard parents' employment. Ideally, maternity leave should not stretch beyond the period that is health-wise necessary in order not to put at risk future employability. The same holds true for parental leave: it should be short and shared between both parents.

Suggested Citation

  • Jérôme De Henau & Leila Maron & Danièle Meulders & Sile Padraigin O'Dorchai, 2007. "Travail et maternité en Europe: conditions de travail et politiques publiques," Brussels Economic Review, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles, vol. 50(1), pages 63-88.
    • Handle: RePEc:bxr:bxrceb:y:2007:v:50:i:1:p:63-88
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    Cited by:

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    3. Olivier Thévenon, 2008. "Politiques de Conciliation du Travail et de la Vie Familiale en Europe :Quelle(s) Complémentarité(s) des Aides Publiques et d'Entreprises ?," Brussels Economic Review, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles, vol. 51(2/3), pages 365-385.
    4. Ariane Szafarz, 2007. "Hiring people-like-yourself: a representation of discrimination on the job market," DULBEA Working Papers 07-21.RS, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    5. Hassan Ayoub & Jérôme Creel & Etienne Farvaque, 2008. "Détermination du niveau des prix et finances: le cas du Liban 1965-2005," DULBEA Working Papers 08-10.RS, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    6. Benoît Mahy & François Rycx & Mélanie Volral, 2008. "L'influence de la dispersion salariale sur la performance des grandes entreprises belges," Reflets et perspectives de la vie économique, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(3), pages 27-40.
    7. Charles Plaigin, 2009. "Exploratory study on the presence of cultural and institutional growth spillovers," DULBEA Working Papers 09-03.RS, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    8. Pierre-Guillaume Méon & Ariane Szafarz, 2008. "Labour market discrimination as an agency cost," Working Papers CEB 08-019.RS, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    9. Henri Capron, 2007. "Politique de cohésion et développement régional," DULBEA Working Papers 07-16.RS, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    10. Ilan Tojerow, 2008. "Industry Wage Differentials Rent Sharing and Gender in Belgium," Reflets et perspectives de la vie économique, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(3), pages 55-65.
    11. Henri Capron & Michele Cincera, 2007. "EU pre-competitive and near-the-market S&T collaborations," Brussels Economic Review, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles, vol. 50(1), pages 135-159.
    12. Sile Padraigin O'Dorchai, 2008. "Pay inequality in 25 European countries," DULBEA Working Papers 0006, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    13. Ilan Tojerow & Robert Plasman & Océane Bertrand, 2016. "Les impacts budgétaires pour les institutions régionales bruxelloises, la Région Wallonne et la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles," DULBEA Working Papers N°16-02.RR, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    14. Abdeslam Marfouk, 2008. "The African brain drain: scope and determinants," DULBEA Working Papers 08-07.RS, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    conditions de travail; emploi; maternité; politiques publiques;
    All these keywords.

    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
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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