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From homemakers to breadwinners? How mandatory kindergarten affects maternal labour market outcomes

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  • Selina Gangl

    (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)

  • Martin Huber

    (University of Fribourg)

Abstract

The majority of Swiss children attend mandatory and cost-free kindergarten at age four. We examine the effect of this policy on maternal labour market outcomes. Using administrative data from Switzerland, we exploit the birthday cut-off for kindergarten entry in the same or in the following year and apply a non-parametric regression discontinuity design (RDD). We find that mandatory kindergarten has a statistically significant positive effect on the labour market attachment of previously non-employed mothers, increasing their employment probability by 4 percentage points. In contrast, there are no significant effects on other groups or in the total sample of mothers.

Suggested Citation

  • Selina Gangl & Martin Huber, 2025. "From homemakers to breadwinners? How mandatory kindergarten affects maternal labour market outcomes," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(2), pages 1-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:38:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s00148-025-01099-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-025-01099-y
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mandatory kindergarten; Maternal employment; Regression discontinuity design;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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