Mothers’ Work, Reconciliation Issues, and Fertility Desires: Evidence from the Evaluation of a Program to Support Mothers

Daniela Del Boca, Luca Favero and Chiara Pronzato

No 21031, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: This paper examines the effects of “Equilibri†a program designed to support mothers of children under 18 in Italy’s Piedmont region. The program is specifically aimed to help women who have reduced or stopped working due to motherhood to achieve better work-life balance by improving both employment and work-family outcomes. The evaluation, conducted via a randomized control trial, shows positive impacts on employment and work-family balance. Women in the treatment group participated in professional courses, informal meetings, reconciliation support and extracurricular activities for their children. We document how targeted mentoring and reconciliation support increases training, hours worked, and fertility desires among specific subgroups of mothers, while also improving children’s engagement in extracurricular activities. Furthermore, a greater proportion of women in the treatment group expressed a desire to have another child.

Keywords: Family-friendly policies; Fertility desires (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-01
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