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Health and labor market impacts of twin birth: Evidence from a Swedish IVF policy

Author

Listed:
  • Bhalotra, Sonia

    (Department of Economics, University of Warwick, CEPR, IEA, IZA, CAGE, IFS)

  • Clarke, Damian

    (bDepartment of Economics, University of Chile and IZA)

  • Mühlrad, Hanna

    (IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy)

  • Palme, Mårten

    (Stockholm University)

Abstract

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has allowed women to delay birth and pursue a career, but it massively increases the risk of twin birth. We investigate the extent to which having twins hampers women’s careers after birth. To do this, we leverage a single embryo transfer (SET) mandate for IVF procedures implemented in Sweden in 2003, following which the share of twin births showed a precipitous drop of 70%. Linking birth registers to hospitalization and earnings registers, we identify substantial improvements in women’s earnings following IVF birth, alongside improvements in maternal and child health and an increase in subsequent fertility. We provide the first comprehensive evaluation of SET. This is relevant given the secular rise in IVF births and the broader rise in the risk of twin birth.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhalotra, Sonia & Clarke, Damian & Mühlrad, Hanna & Palme, Mårten, 2023. "Health and labor market impacts of twin birth: Evidence from a Swedish IVF policy," Working Paper Series 2023:19, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:ifauwp:2023_019
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    File URL: https://www.ifau.se/Forskning/Publikationer/Working-papers/2023/health-and-labor-market-impacts-of-twin-birth-evidence-from-a-swedish-ivf-policy/
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    twins; IVF; single embryo transfer; career costs of children; gender wage gap; fertility; maternal health; neonatal health; gender;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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