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Motherhood and flexible jobs: Evidence from Latin American countries

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  • Berniell, Inés
  • Berniell, Lucila
  • de la Mata, Dolores
  • Edo, María
  • Marchionni, Mariana

Abstract

We study the causal effects of motherhood on labour market outcomes in Latin America by adopting an event study approach around the birth of the first child based on panel data from national household surveys for Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay. We show that motherhood not only reduces women’s employment but also implies changes in their occupational structure towards time-flexible, yet more vulnerable, forms of employment: part-time jobs, self-employment and informal work. Additionally, we provide suggestive evidence for 18 Latin American countries that gender norms and family policies shape the demand for flexibility that arises with the arrival of children. Countries that hold more conservative views regarding women’s role within the family or with less generous family policies show larger gaps in labour market outcomes between mothers and childless women.

Suggested Citation

  • Berniell, Inés & Berniell, Lucila & de la Mata, Dolores & Edo, María & Marchionni, Mariana, 2023. "Motherhood and flexible jobs: Evidence from Latin American countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:167:y:2023:i:c:s0305750x23000438
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106225
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    2. Nicolás Francisco Abbate, 2021. "Participación Laboral Femenina y Pre-escolaridad: el impacto de la obligatoriedad de la Sala de 4 en el Trabajo de las Madres," Asociación Argentina de Economía Política: Working Papers 4430, Asociación Argentina de Economía Política.
    3. Mariana Marchionni & Julián Pedrazzi, 2023. "The Last Hurdle? Unyielding Motherhood Effects in the Context of Declining Gender Inequality in Latin America," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0321, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    4. Martina Querejeta, 2022. "Impact of female peer composition on gender norm perceptions and skills formation in secondary school," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-28, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Estefanía Galván & Cecilia García-Peñalosa, 2021. "Interactions amongst gender norms: Evidence from US couples," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 21-15, Instituto de Economía - IECON.
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    7. Díaz Escobar, Ana María & Salas Bahamón, Luz Magdalena & Piras, Claudia & Suaya, Agustina, 2024. "Gender Disparities in Valuing Remote and Hybrid Work in Latin America," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 13439, Inter-American Development Bank.
    8. Canavire Bacarreza, Gustavo J. & Yanez, Gunnar Poppe, 2024. "Can Children's Education Enhance Formal Female Labor Force Participation?," IZA Discussion Papers 17429, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Inés Berniell & Leonardo Gasparini & Mariana Marchionni & Mariana Viollaz, 2023. "The role of children and work-from-home in gender labor market asymmetries: evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1191-1214, December.
    10. Ana María Iregui-Bohórquez & María Teresa Ramírez-Giraldo & Sara Isabel Caicedo-Silva, 2024. "Las mujeres en la banca central: El caso del Banco de la República de Colombia, 1923-2023," Cuadernos de Historia Económica 62, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    11. Serio Monserrat, 2021. "Mujeres emprendedoras en América Latina: Una mirada sobre la influencia del nivel educativo en la probabilidad de emprender," Asociación Argentina de Economía Política: Working Papers 4522, Asociación Argentina de Economía Política.

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