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Changes in maternity leave coverage: Implications for fertility, labour force participation and child mortality

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  • Ahmed, Salma
  • Fielding, David

Abstract

Analysing macro-panel data from 18 African and Asian countries over the period 1995–2016, this article investigates the effects of the level and duration of paid maternity leave on three dimensions of human development: fertility, female formal-sector employment and infant mortality. There is some evidence that, on average, extending the duration of leave leads to reductions in infant mortality and employment. However, there is no conclusive evidence that leave duration has a direct effect on fertility. In contrast, there is some evidence that higher maternity leave payments lead to higher fertility, but no evidence that payment levels have any effect on infant mortality or employment.

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  • Ahmed, Salma & Fielding, David, 2019. "Changes in maternity leave coverage: Implications for fertility, labour force participation and child mortality," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:241:y:2019:i:c:s0277953619305672
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112573
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    4. Regmi, Krishna & Wang, Le, 2022. "Maternity Leave," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1184, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    5. Cecilia Machado & Valdemar Neto & Christiane Szerman, 2023. "Firm and Worker Responses to Extensions in Paid Maternity Leave," CESifo Working Paper Series 10736, CESifo.

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