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Work and children in Spain: challenges and opportunities for equality between men and women

Author

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  • Claudia Hupkau

    (CUNEF Universidad
    London School of Economics)

  • Jenifer Ruiz-Valenzuela

    (Universitat de Barcelona & Barcelona Institute of Economics (IEB)
    London School of Economics)

Abstract

Over the past decades, Spain has seen a striking convergence between women’s and men’s participation in the labour market. However, this convergence has stalled since the early 2010s. We show that women still fare worse in several important labour market dimensions. Gender inequalities are further aggravated among people with children. Women with children under 16 are much more likely to be unemployed, work part-time or on temporary contracts than men with children of the same age. We show that it is unlikely that preferences alone can account for these gaps. A review of the evidence shows that family policies, such as paternity leave expansions, financial incentives in the form of tax credits for working mothers and subsidised or free childcare for very young children, could help reduce the motherhood penalty. However, such policies are likely to be more effective if combined with advances in breaking up traditional gender roles.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia Hupkau & Jenifer Ruiz-Valenzuela, 2022. "Work and children in Spain: challenges and opportunities for equality between men and women," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 13(1), pages 243-268, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:series:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s13209-021-00243-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s13209-021-00243-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Pomares Varo, Gema, 2023. "Breaking the marriage trap: unilateral divorce and its effects on labor supply of married women," UC3M Working papers. Economics 37157, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Departamento de Economía.
    2. Zuazu, Izaskun, 2024. "Gender and the pandemic in political ideology: The case of Spain," ifso working paper series 37, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Socioeconomics (ifso).
    3. Blázquez, Maite & Herrarte, Ainhoa & Moro-Egido, Ana I., 2023. "Gender differences in the effect of teleworking on job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    4. Juan S. Mora-Sanguinetti & Laura Hospido & Andrés Atienza-Maeso, 2024. "Is Equality Regulation Effective in Reducing Gender Gaps in the Labor Market? Quantification and Evidence for Spain," Working papers 943, Banque de France.
    5. Lafuente, Cristina & Ruland, Astrid & Santaeulàlia-Llopis, Raül & Visschers, Ludo, 2023. "The effects of Covid-19 on couples’ job tenures: Mothers have it worse," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender gaps; Inequality; Family policy; Motherhood penalty;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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