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Can Public Policies Break the Gender Mold? Evidence from Paternity Leave Reforms in Six Countries

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Abstract

We investigate the impact of paternity leave policies on gender role attitudes in the next generation. We measure gender-stereotypical attitudes using an Implicit Association Test with 3,000 online respondents in six countries. Using an RD design, we observe a significant reduction (-0.20 SD) in gender-stereotypical attitudes among men born post-paternity leave implementation. This shift influences career choices, as men whose fathers were affected by the reform are more inclined to pursue counter-stereotypical jobs, particularly in high-skilled occupations like healthcare and education. Our findings highlight how paternity leave fosters egalitarian gender norms and affects the occupational choices of the next generation.

Suggested Citation

  • Sébastien Fontenay & Libertad González Luna, 2024. "Can Public Policies Break the Gender Mold? Evidence from Paternity Leave Reforms in Six Countries," Economics Working Papers 1879, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    • Handle: RePEc:upf:upfgen:1879
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    1. Salvatore Lo Bello & Iacopo Morchio, 2022. "Like father, like son: Occupational choice, intergenerational persistence and misallocation," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 13(2), pages 629-679, May.
    2. Martin Eckhoff Andresen & Emily Nix, 2022. "Can the child penalty be reduced?. Evaluating multiple policy interventions," Discussion Papers 983, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    3. Natalia Nollenberger & Núria Rodríguez-Planas & Almudena Sevilla, 2016. "The Math Gender Gap: The Role of Culture," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(5), pages 257-261, May.
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    1. Dahl, Gordon & Loken, Katrine V., 2024. "Families, public policies, and the labor market," Handbook of Labor Economics,, Elsevier.
    2. Sébastien Fontenay & Libertad González, 2025. "When Fathers Step In: Long-Term Consequences of Early Paternal Involvement," Working Papers 1542, Barcelona School of Economics.
    3. Stefan C. Wolter & Thea S. Zöllner, 2025. "Are parents an obstacle to gender-atypical occupational choices?," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(4), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Joanne Haddad & Lamis Kattan, 2024. "Female-Specific Labor Regulation and Employment: Historical Evidence from the United States," CESifo Working Paper Series 11546, CESifo.
    5. Gordon Dahl & Katrine Loken, 2024. "Families, Public Policies, and the Labor Market," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 2423, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).
    6. Sébastien Fontenay & Libertad González Luna, 2025. "When fathers step in: Long-term consequences of early paternal involvement," Economics Working Papers 1934, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    7. Jenifer Ruiz-Valenzuela & Claudia Hupkau & Lídia Farré & Libertad González, 2024. "Paternity Leave in Spain," Working Papers 1455, Barcelona School of Economics.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • 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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