Do Family Values Shape the Pace of Return to Work after Childbirth?

Mireia Borrell-Porta

No 5185, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: This paper evaluates the effect of a parental leave policy reform in Germany in 2007 on the pace of return to work of mothers with different family values background. Using a regression discontinuity design and an epidemiological approach to family values, the paper shows that the policy reform has accelerated the pace of return to work mainly for mothers with traditional family values background, thus leading to overall convergence between mothers with different family values background. The magnitude of convergence, however, differs across education levels. Mothers with low and vocational education exhibit moderate-to-high levels of convergence, whereas highly-educated mothers actually diverge in their pace of return to work. The paper suggests that mothers with traditional family background may use the educational system either as way to enhance their cultural investment or as a marriage market, and therefore will not be very sensitive to changes in economic incentives.

Keywords: parental leave; family values background; female labour supply; epidemiological approach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J13 J21 J22 Z10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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