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Childbirth and cohort effects on mothers' labour supply: a comparative study using life history data for Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain

Author

Listed:
  • Didier Fouarge

    (Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA), d.fouarge@maastrichtuniversity.nl)

  • Anna Manzoni

    (Yale University, anna.manzoni@yale.edu)

  • Ruud Muffels

    (Tilburg University, Ruud.J.Muffels@uvt.nl)

  • Ruud Luijkx

    (Tilburg University, R.Luijkx@uvt.nl)

Abstract

The negative effect of childbirth on mothers’ labour supply is well documented, though most studies examine only the short-term effects. This study uses retrospective life history data for Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain to investigate the long-term effects of childbirth on mothers’ labour supply for successive birth cohorts. Probit estimates with correction for selection into motherhood and the number of births show strong drops in participation before first childbirths and strong recovery after the birth of the last child, especially in Great Britain. Younger cohorts display a less sharp decline in participation around childbirth and a faster increase in participation in the 20 years after childbirth, especially in the Netherlands. However, mothers’ participation rates do not return to pre-birth levels in any of the countries studied here. Labour market conditions and institutional public support seem to contribute to explaining the cross-country variation in participation after childbirth.

Suggested Citation

  • Didier Fouarge & Anna Manzoni & Ruud Muffels & Ruud Luijkx, 2010. "Childbirth and cohort effects on mothers' labour supply: a comparative study using life history data for Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 24(3), pages 487-507, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:24:y:2010:i:3:p:487-507
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017010371651
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Ruud Muffels & Bruce Headey, 2013. "Capabilities and Choices: Do They Make Sen’se for Understanding Objective and Subjective Well-Being? An Empirical Test of Sen’s Capability Framework on German and British Panel Data," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 110(3), pages 1159-1185, February.
    3. Benson, Rebecca & Glaser, Karen & Corna, Laurie M. & Platts, Loretta G. & Di Gessa, Giorgio & Worts, Diana & Price, Debora & McDonough, Peggy & Sacker, Amanda, 2017. "Do work and family care histories predict health in older women?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 84653, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Xavier St‐Denis & Matissa Hollister, 2023. "Two paths towards job instability: Comparing changes in the distribution of job tenure duration in the United Kingdom and Germany, 1984–2014," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 61(3), pages 723-751, September.
    5. Ezgi Caki, 2022. "The Plight of Female Employment in Germany under School-Related COVID-19 Control Measures," The CoronaNet Researchers Working Paper Series 04/2022, CoronaNet Research Project, revised Jun 2022.
    6. Ryszard Kowalski & Agnieszka Strzelecka & Agnieszka Wałęga & Grzegorz Wałęga, 2023. "Do Children Matter to the Household Debt Burden?," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 1007-1022, December.
    7. Lisa Landschoot & Didier Willaert & Helga A. G. Valk & Jan Bavel, 2018. "Partner Choice and the Transition to Parenthood for Second-Generation Women of Turkish and Moroccan Origin in Belgium," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 34(4), pages 579-608, October.
    8. Tomoko Kishi, 2013. "Cohort Effects, Spousal Incomes and Female Labour Force Participation in Japan - A Panel Data Analysis," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 16(2), pages 201-217.

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