Parenthood and the Gender Gap in Academic Careers

Olof Ejermo () and Peter Holmström
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Olof Ejermo: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Postal: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Box 7083, S-220 07 Lund, Sweden

No 266, Lund Papers in Economic History from Lund University, Department of Economic History

Abstract: Using population-wide data on Swedish university researchers and teachers, we identify the effects of parenthood on academic careers. Leveraging staggered event-study models that compare mothers and fathers around first birth, we document widening gender gaps in publication output, wage income, promotion, and PhD completion. These gaps arise across all scientific fields. We further document substantial gender differences prior to first birth and among never-parents, indicating that child-related penalties explain only part of the overall academic gender gap.

Keywords: academic careers; child penalty; parenthood; gender gap; Sweden; staggered; event study; research productivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 I23 J13 J16 J24 J31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 60 pages
Date: 2026-03-31
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu and nep-lma
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Related works:
Working Paper: Parenthood and the Gender Gap in Academic Careers (2026)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hhs:luekhi:0266

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