Maternal employment, breastfeeding, and health: Evidence from maternity leave mandates

Michael Baker and Kevin Milligan

No 13188, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Public health agencies around the world have renewed efforts to increase the incidence and duration of breastfeeding. Maternity leave mandates present an economic policy that could help achieve these goals. We study their efficacy focusing on a significant increase in maternity leave mandates in Canada. We find very large increases in mothers' time away from work post-birth and in the attainment of critical breastfeeding duration thresholds. However, we find little impact on the self-reported indicators of maternal and child health captured in our data.

JEL-codes: I18 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-lab
Note: CH EH LS
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

Published as Baker, Michael & Milligan, Kevin, 2008. "Maternal employment, breastfeeding, and health: Evidence from maternity leave mandates," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 871-887, July.

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Journal Article: Maternal employment, breastfeeding, and health: Evidence from maternity leave mandates (2008)
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