Does the availability of childcare influence the employment of mothers? Findings from western Germany

Karsten Hank and Michaela R. Kreyenfeld
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Karsten Hank: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany
Michaela R. Kreyenfeld: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany

No WP-2000-003, MPIDR Working Papers from Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany

Abstract: There is a vast empirical literature investigating the effects of childcare costs on female employment. Day-care costs are usually treated as a reduction in female wages and are supposed to reduce a woman’s propensity to participate in the labor market. In this paper we argue that an analysis of the effects of childcare on the employment of mothers in Germany should focus on the availability rather than the affordability of care, due to peculiarities of the German day-care regime. Our empirical findings cast doubt on the effectiveness of the current German day-care regime. Specifically, we question the extent to which it enables mothers to participate in the labor market. (AUTHORS)

JEL-codes: J1 Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2000
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (131)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dem:wpaper:wp-2000-003

DOI: 10.4054/MPIDR-WP-2000-003

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