The Impact of Paid Maternity Leave on Maternal Health

Aline Bütikofer, Julie Riise and Meghan Skira

American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2021, vol. 13, issue 1, 67-105

Abstract: We examine the impact of the introduction of paid maternity leave in Norway in 1977 on maternal health in the medium and long term. Using administrative data combined with survey data on the health of women around age 40, we find the reform improved a range of maternal health outcomes, including BMI, blood pressure, pain, and mental health. The reform also increased health-promoting behaviors, such as exercise and not smoking. The effects were larger for first-time and low-resource mothers and women who would have taken little unpaid leave in the absence of the reform.

JEL-codes: I12 J13 J16 J32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Impact of Paid Maternity Leave on Maternal Health (2018)
Working Paper: The Impact of Paid Maternity Leave on Maternal Health (2018)
Working Paper: The Impact of Paid Maternity Leave on Maternal Health (2018)
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DOI: 10.1257/pol.20190022

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