Peer effects in parental leave decisions

Clara Welteke and Katharina Wrohlich

EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, 2019, vol. 57, 146-163

Abstract: We analyze whether mothers’ parental leave decisions depend on their coworkers’ decisions. The identification of peer effects bears various challenges due to correlated characteristics within social groups. We therefore exploit quasi-random variation in the costs of parental leave induced by a policy reform in Germany. The reform encourages mothers to remain at home during the first year following childbirth. Administrative linked employer-employee data enable us to assign a peer group to individuals who work in the same establishment and occupation. Our results suggest that parental leave decisions are significantly influenced by coworkers’ decisions.

Keywords: Peer effects; Social interaction; Labor supply; Family policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C31 D04 J22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/233825/1/Wrohlich%20Welteke%20AV.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Peer effects in parental leave decisions (2019)
Working Paper: Peer Effects in Parental Leave Decisions (2016)
Working Paper: Peer Effects in Parental Leave Decisions (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:espost:233825

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