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The Motherhood Penalties: Insights from Women in UK Academia

Author

Listed:
  • Troeger, Vera E.

    (University of Warwick and Universitat Hamburg)

  • Di Leo, Riccardo

    (University of Warwick)

  • Scotto, Thomas J.

    (University of Glasgow)

  • Epifanio, Mariaelisa

    (University of Liverpool)

Abstract

We use an original survey of academic women in the UK to investigate different dimensions of the motherhood penalty. Being a mother has no effect on salaries, but still slows down career progression even in such a high-skilled sector. Motherhood has an ambivalent impact on women’s perception of their working environment: improving satisfaction, but reducing perception of salary fairness relative to men. Our paper also explores how different policies can mitigate the motherhood penalties. We find that more generous maternity provisions are associated with higher salary, potentially because generosity reduces the crowding out of research activity. Better availability of childcare and an even distribution of responsibilities within the household correlate positively with earnings. Our findings also highlight the importance of a supportive work environment for mothers’ career and well-being at the workplace. Taken together, these findings suggest the necessity of a multi-faceted policy response to the motherhood penalties.

Suggested Citation

  • Troeger, Vera E. & Di Leo, Riccardo & Scotto, Thomas J. & Epifanio, Mariaelisa, 2020. "The Motherhood Penalties: Insights from Women in UK Academia," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 519, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cge:wacage:519
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    File URL: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/centres/cage/manage/publications/wp519.2020.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Troeger, Vera E. & Di Leo, Riccardo & Scotto, Thomas J. & Epifanio, Mariaelisa, 2020. "Motherhood in Academia : A Novel Dataset with an Application to Maternity Leave Uptake," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1312, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    2. Troeger, Vera E. & Di Leo, Riccardo & Scotto, Thomas J. & Epifanio, Mariaelisa, 2020. "Motherhood in Academia: A Novel Dataset with an Application to Maternity Leave Uptake," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 518, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).

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    satisfaction; salary; career; exclusion; gender pay gap; academia JEL Classification:;
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