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School Schedule and the Gender Pay Gap

Author

Listed:
  • Emma Duchini
  • Clémentine Van Effenterre

Abstract

We provide causal evidence that children’s school schedules contribute to the persistence of the gender pay gap between parents. Historically, French children have had no school on Wednesdays. In 2013, a reform reallocated some classes to Wednesday mornings. Exploiting variations in the application of this reform over time and age of the youngest child, we show that mothers are more likely to adopt a regular Monday–Friday full†time working schedule after the reform, while fathers’ labor supply is unchanged. Consequently, the reform decreased the gender gap in monthly wages by 6 percent, generating welfare benefits that substantially outweigh its costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Duchini & Clémentine Van Effenterre, 2024. "School Schedule and the Gender Pay Gap," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 59(4), pages 1052-1089.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:59:y:2024:i:4:p:1052-1089
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0121-11431R2
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    File URL: http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/59/4/1052
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Montpetit, Sébastien & Beaureard, Pierre-Loup & Carrer, Luisa, 2024. "A welfare analysis of universal childcare: Lessons from a Canadian reform," CLEF Working Paper Series 73, Canadian Labour Economics Forum (CLEF), University of Waterloo.
    2. Cyprien Batut & Caroline Coly & Sarah Schneider-Strawczynski, 2026. "It’s a Man’s World: Culture of Abuse, #Metoo and Worker Flows," CESifo Working Paper Series 12551, CESifo.
    3. Fan Qin & Yinhe Liang, 2025. "Children’s access to public education and maternal employment: evidence from China," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(4), pages 1-35, December.
    4. Qin, Wenjing & Gu, Xin & Li, Hao, 2025. "Rising temperatures, shrinking gaps: The unexpected labor market impact of climate shocks," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 845-857.
    5. Nezih Guner & Ezgi Kaya & Alessandro Ruggieri & Virginia Sánchez-Marcos, 2025. "Firms, Flexibility, and Fertility," Working Papers wp2025_2525, CEMFI.
    6. Patrinos, Harry Anthony & Rivera-Olvera, Angelica, 2024. "The Returns to Education over time and the Effect of COVID-19," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1496, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    7. Kristy Buzard & Laura K Gee & Olga Stoddard, 2025. "Who You Gonna Call? Gender Inequality in External Demands for Parental Involvement," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 140(4), pages 2805-2849.
    8. Lebedinski, Lara & Liedl, Bernd & Skirbekk, Vegard & Steiber, Nadia & Winter-Ebmer, Rudolf, 2025. "Faith and the Child Penalty: Religious Affiliation and Gendered Earnings Losses After Childbirth," IHS Working Paper Series 59, Institute for Advanced Studies.
    9. Grönqvist, Erik & Hensvik, Lena & Okuyama, Yoko & Thoresson, Anna, 2026. "Women’s labor market opportunities and equality in the household," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education
    • 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
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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