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Mobilizing the Manpower of Mothers: Childcare Under the Lanham Act During WWII

In: The Economic Impacts of World War II

Author

Listed:
  • Claudia Goldin
  • Claudia Olivetti
  • Joseph Ferrie

Abstract

The Lanham Act was a federal infrastructure bill passed by Congress in 1940 and eventually used to fund programs for the preschool and school-aged children of working women during WWII. It remains, to this day, the only example in US history of an (almost) universal, largely federally supported childcare program. We explore its role in enabling and increasing the labor supply of mothers during WWII using information on the program, war contracts, and employment at the city level. Use of Lanham Act funds for a wartime childcare program was initially controversial. However, the program was eventually well funded per child in average daily attendance and provided generally high-quality care. But it was late to start, limited in scope, and incapable of greatly increasing women’s employment in the aggregate. Childcare facilities were funded more in places that already had higher participation rates of mothers and where the wartime need was the greatest. The impact on the children served is still to be determined.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia Goldin & Claudia Olivetti & Joseph Ferrie, 2024. "Mobilizing the Manpower of Mothers: Childcare Under the Lanham Act During WWII," NBER Chapters, in: The Economic Impacts of World War II, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberch:15290
    Note: CH DAE LS
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. William J. Collins, 2001. "Race, Roosevelt, and Wartime Production: Fair Employment in World War II Labor Markets," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(1), pages 272-286, March.
    2. Chris M. Herbst, 2017. "Universal Child Care, Maternal Employment, and Children’s Long-Run Outcomes: Evidence from the US Lanham Act of 1940," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 35(2), pages 519-564.
    3. Goldin, Claudia D, 1991. "The Role of World War II in the Rise of Women's Employment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 81(4), pages 741-756, September.
    4. Rose, Evan K., 2018. "The Rise and Fall of Female Labor Force Participation During World War II in the United States," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 78(3), pages 673-711, September.
    5. Goldin, Claudia D., 1991. "The Role of World War II in the Rise of Women's Employment," Scholarly Articles 30703972, Harvard University Department of Economics.
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    Cited by:

    1. Greenspon, Jacob & Hanson, Gordon, 2025. "Local energy access and industry specialization: Evidence from World War II emergency pipelines," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • N32 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • N42 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-

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