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Maternity leave versus early childcare—What are the long-term consequences for children?

Author

Listed:
  • Nabanita Datta Gupta

    (Aarhus University, Denmark, and IZA, Germany)

  • Jonas Jessen

    (European University Viadrina, Berlin School of Economics, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

There is growing agreement among parents in high-income countries that having a working mother does not harm a preschool child. Yet, research is ongoing on what the long-term effects on children are of being looked after at home (primarily by their mothers) or in childcare. Most studies find positive effects of childcare on child outcomes for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and moderate effects for children from more advantaged backgrounds. Policymakers need to improve compensation and the working environment for the sector if a high quality level is to be achieved and if the beneficial effects are to be maintained.

Suggested Citation

  • Nabanita Datta Gupta & Jonas Jessen, 2023. "Maternity leave versus early childcare—What are the long-term consequences for children?," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 438-438, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:2023:n:438
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Nabanita Datta Gupta & Jonas Jessen & C. Katharina Spiess, 2023. "Maternal Life Satisfaction and Child Development from Toddlerhood to Adolescence," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1189, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    2. Centro Internacional de Políticas para el Crecimiento Inclusivo (IPC-IG) & UNICEF — Oficina Regional para América Latina y el Caribe, 2020. "Maternidad y paternidad en el lugar de trabajo en América Latina y el Caribe — políticas para la licencia de maternidad y paternidad y apoyo a la lactancia materna," Research Report Spanish (Country Study) 40, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth.
    3. Gabriella Conti, 2013. "The Developmental Origins of Health Inequality," Research on Economic Inequality, in: Health and Inequality, volume 21, pages 285-309, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    4. Henning Hermes & Philipp Lergetporer & Frauke Peter & Simon Wiederhold, 2021. "Application Barriers and the Socioeconomic Gap in Child Care Enrollment," CESifo Working Paper Series 9282, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    publicly subsidized child care; maternity leave schemes; long-term outcomes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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