From homemakers to breadwinners? How mandatory kindergarten affects maternal labour market outcomes

Selina Gangl () and Martin Huber ()
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Selina Gangl: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Martin Huber: University of Fribourg

Journal of Population Economics, 2025, vol. 38, issue 2, No 8, 23 pages

Abstract: Abstract The majority of Swiss children attend mandatory and cost-free kindergarten at age four. We examine the effect of this policy on maternal labour market outcomes. Using administrative data from Switzerland, we exploit the birthday cut-off for kindergarten entry in the same or in the following year and apply a non-parametric regression discontinuity design (RDD). We find that mandatory kindergarten has a statistically significant positive effect on the labour market attachment of previously non-employed mothers, increasing their employment probability by 4 percentage points. In contrast, there are no significant effects on other groups or in the total sample of mothers.

Keywords: Mandatory kindergarten; Maternal employment; Regression discontinuity design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H40 J13 J18 J21 J22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s00148-025-01099-y

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