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Fathers but not caregivers

Author

Listed:
  • Aldén, Lina

    (Linnéuniversitet)

  • Boschini, Anne

    (Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University)

  • Tallås Ahlzén, Malin

    (Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm University)

Abstract

Despite multiple reforms aimed at encouraging fathers to take parental leave, a significant portion of fathers still choose not to take any leave. In this paper, we exploit quasi-experimental variation in parental leave reforms and in gender norms to provide a causal analysis of how the group of fathers with no parental leave uptake has changed over time using high-quality Swedish register data. To account for selection into fatherhood and general trends in the population of fathers, we study differences in traits relative to the average father. We find that while some of the non-leave taking fathers have poor health or criminal convictions, they are not very different in this regard from the total population of fathers. Instead, we observe a clear trend indicating that the non-leave taking fathers are increasingly facing economic constraints in terms of having a low income and earning less than the mother. We show that the fathers with weak labor market attachment are the least compliant with parental leave quotas and present suggestive evidence that non-leave taking fathers and mothers in couples with such fathers have become more likely to conform to traditional gender norms. The results suggest that reforms reserving additional months for each parent will have a limited impact on the fathers who do not take any parental leave. Instead, policies may need to target the lack of economic resources or gender norms of both the father and the mother.

Suggested Citation

  • Aldén, Lina & Boschini, Anne & Tallås Ahlzén, Malin, 2023. "Fathers but not caregivers," Working Paper Series 11/2023, Stockholm University, Swedish Institute for Social Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:sofiwp:2023_011
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Will Dobbie & Hans Grönqvist & Susan Niknami & Mårten Palme & Mikael Priks, 2018. "The Intergenerational Effects of Parental Incarceration," NBER Working Papers 24186, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • 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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