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Fathers’ Use of Childbirth Leave in Spain. The Effects of the 13-Day Paternity Leave

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  • Lorenzo Escot
  • José Fernández-Cornejo
  • Carlos Poza

Abstract

This article investigates, for the case of Spain, to what extent the introduction in March 2007 of a non-transferable 13-day paternity leave has encouraged men to make greater use of childbirth leave. Data were drawn from the Spanish Economically Active Population Survey, covering the period 2005–2009. We use a natural experiment approach, comparing the behavior of wage earners fathers with children of less than 1 year of age before and after the reform and using mothers as control group. After estimating a difference-in-differences logistic regression model we obtain statistical evidence that there is a higher percentage of males on leave in the reference week in the post-reform period (after 2007). The article also analyzes some of the personal and socio-economic determinants of the fathers’ use of childbirth leave. Fathers are more likely to be on leave if they have stability in employment, if there are facilities for reconciling work and family life (working in the public sector) and if the partner is employed. The father’s age has an interesting U-shaped influence. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Lorenzo Escot & José Fernández-Cornejo & Carlos Poza, 2014. "Fathers’ Use of Childbirth Leave in Spain. The Effects of the 13-Day Paternity Leave," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 33(3), pages 419-453, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:poprpr:v:33:y:2014:i:3:p:419-453
    DOI: 10.1007/s11113-013-9304-7
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    1. Farré, Lídia & González, Libertad, 2019. "Does paternity leave reduce fertility?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 52-66.
    2. Pasamar, Susana & Alegre, Joaquín, 2015. "Adoption and use of work-life initiatives: Looking at the influence of institutional pressures and gender," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 214-224.
    3. Molly Mayer & Céline Le Bourdais, 2019. "Sharing Parental Leave Among Dual-Earner Couples in Canada: Does Reserved Paternity Leave Make a Difference?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 38(2), pages 215-239, April.
    4. Jonas Wood & Leen Marynissen & Dries Gasse, 2023. "When is it About the Money? Relative Wages and Fathers’ Parental Leave Decisions," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(6), pages 1-24, December.
    5. Nevena Zhelyazkova & Gilbert Ritschard, 2018. "Parental Leave Take-Up of Fathers in Luxembourg," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 37(5), pages 769-793, October.
    6. Teresa Jurado-Guerrero & Jacobo Muñoz-Comet, 2021. "Design Matters Most: Changing Social Gaps in the Use of Fathers’ Leave in Spain," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 40(3), pages 589-615, June.
    7. Almudena Moreno-Mínguez & à ngel L Martín-Román & Alfonso Moral, 2023. "Father Parental Leave Use in Spain: The Role of the Female Partner Labour Situation," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 37(1), pages 293-305, February.

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