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The interactive effect of maternity leaves and child care enrollment on maternal employment

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  • Lee, Sung-Tae
  • Jung, Sun-Moon

Abstract

This cross-country empirical research investigates the impact of maternity leaves and the child care enrollment rates on increasing maternal employment. By analyzing data from OECD countries with country-fixed effects, we find that the child care enrollment for 0–2 year olds increases the maternity employment rate. We confirm an inverted U-shaped relationship between the maternity leave duration and the maternity employment rate, as evidenced in prior studies. More interestingly, we find that an interaction term between child care enrollment and maternity leave duration is significantly positive, suggesting that two variables play a complement role in enhancing maternal employment rate. By examining the independent and complementary effects of extended maternity leave and child care enrollment rates, our study suggests that their combined use significantly enhances maternal employment rates, highlighting a complementary relationship that policymakers should consider to support working mothers effectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Sung-Tae & Jung, Sun-Moon, 2024. "The interactive effect of maternity leaves and child care enrollment on maternal employment," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 344-353.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:84:y:2024:i:c:p:344-353
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eap.2024.08.034
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Family-friendly policies; Maternity employment; Maternity leaves; Child care services; Cross-country study;
    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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