When Fathers Step In: Long-Term Consequences of Early Paternal Involvement

Sébastien Fontenay and Libertad González

No 1542, Working Papers from Barcelona School of Economics

Abstract: We estimate the long-term impact of early paternal involvement by exploiting the 2002 Belgian paternity leave introduction as a natural experiment. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that the reform significantly increased fathers' long-term time investment in childcare. Tracking children into early adulthood, we find precisely estimated null effects on a comprehensive set of outcomes, including educational attainment, labor market attachment, and family formation. These results hold across subgroups, including children of low and high- educated fathers. We conclude that while paternity leave may increase father involvement, it does not generate detectable advantages (or disadvantages) in children's early adult lives.

Keywords: intergenerational effects; paternity leave (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J08 J13 J16 J18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-12
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