Causal effects on employment after first birth - A dynamic treatment approach -

B. Fitzenberger, K. Sommerfeld, S. Steffes

    Research output: Working paper / PreprintWorking paper

    837 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    The effects of childbirth on future labor market outcomes are a key issue for policy discussion. This paper implements a dynamic treatment approach to estimate the effect of having the first child now versus later on future employment for the case of Germany, a country with a long maternity leave coverage. Effect heterogeneity is assessed by estimating ex post outcome regressions. Based on SOEP data, we provide estimates at a monthly frequency. The results show that there are very strong negative employment effects after childbirth. Although the employment loss is reduced over the first five years following childbirth, it does not level off to zero. The employment loss is lower for mothers
    with a university degree. It is especially high for medium-skilled mothers with long prebirth
    employment experience. We find a significant reduction in the employment loss for more recent childbirths.
    Original languageEnglish
    Place of PublicationMaastricht
    PublisherMaastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2013

    Publication series

    SeriesGSBE Research Memoranda
    Number031

    Cite this