Early kindergarten, maternal labor supply and children's outcomes: Evidence from Italy

Francesca Carta and Lucia Rizzica

Journal of Public Economics, 2018, vol. 158, issue C, 79-102

Abstract: We analyze a reform that introduced early access to subsidized childcare for 2-year-old children in Italy, exploring the effects on several measures of maternal labor supply and on children's cognitive outcomes. Our identification strategy exploits discontinuities in the eligibility rules and the staggered implementation of the reform. We find that the policy increased mothers' participation in the labor market and lowered the reservation wage of the unemployed, thus increasing their likelihood of finding a job. At the same time, the newly introduced childcare arrangement did not affect children's cognitive development, irrespective of their family background.

Keywords: Childcare; Female labor supply; Child development; Public services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H40 I21 J13 J21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (74)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:158:y:2018:i:c:p:79-102

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2017.12.012

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