Employment, Family Union and Childbearing Decisions in Great Britain

Simon Burgess (), Carol Propper, Arnstein Aassve and Matt Dickson

No 4011, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: The Paper investigates the relationship of work and family life in Britain. Using hazard regression techniques we estimate a five-equation model, which includes birth events, union formation, union dissolution, employment and non-employment events. The model allows for unobserved heterogeneity that is correlated across all five equations. We use information from the British Household Panel Survey, including the retrospective histories concerning work, union, and child bearing, to estimate this model. We obtain well-defined parameter estimates, including significant and correlated unobserved heterogeneity. We find that transitions in and out of employment for men are relatively independent of other transitions. In contrast, there are strong links between female employment, having children and union formation. By undertaking a detailed micro simulations analysis, we show that different levels of female labour force participation do not necessarily lead to large changes in fertility levels. Changes in union formation and fertility levels, on the other hand, do have a significant impact on employment rates.

Keywords: Labour supply; Fertility; Marriage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J12 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eec and nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Employment, family union and childbearing decisions in Great Britain (2006)
Working Paper: Employment, Family Union, and Childbearing Decisions in Great Britain (2004)
Working Paper: Employment, family union, and childbearing decisions in Great Britain (2004)
Working Paper: Employment, family union, and childbearing decisions in Great Britain (2003)
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