Universal Child Care, Maternal Labor Supply, and Family Well-Being

Michael Baker, Jonathan Gruber and Kevin Milligan ()

Journal of Political Economy, 2008, vol. 116, issue 4, pages 709-745

Abstract: We analyze the introduction of highly subsidized, universally accessible child care in Quebec, addressing the impact on child care utilization, maternal labor supply, and family well-being. We find strong evidence of a shift into new child care use, although some crowding out of existing arrangements is evident. Maternal labor supply increases significantly. Finally, the evidence suggests that children are worse off by measures ranging from aggression to motor and social skills to illness. We also uncover evidence that the new child care program led to more hostile, less consistent parenting, worse parental health, and lower-quality parental relationships. (c) 2008 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved..

Date: 2008
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Working Paper: Universal Childcare, Maternal Labor Supply, and Family Well-Being (2006)
Working Paper: Universal Childcare, Maternal Labor Supply, and Family Well-Being (2005)
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