Negative effects of long parental leave on maternal health: Evidence from a substantial policy change in Austria

Caroline Chuard

Journal of Health Economics, 2023, vol. 88, issue C

Abstract: I study the effect of parental leave duration on maternal health in the short- to medium-run leveraging variation in parental leave duration induced by an Austrian policy reform in the year 2000. Using rich administrative data and a regression discontinuity framework, I find that long parental leave of 2.5 years instead of 1.5 years deteriorates maternal health. Worse mental health mainly drives this effect. Alternative channels such as differential fertility, long-term employment effects, a change in disposable income or alternative mode of childcare are unlikely to be of main importance. There is substantial heterogeneity with longer leave spells being less harmful for mothers with unhealthy babies proxied by low birth weight.

Keywords: Parental leave; Maternal health; Mental health; Regression discontinuity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 J13 J16 J18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:88:y:2023:i:c:s0167629623000036

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102726

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