The Long and Short of It: Maternity Leave Coverage and Women’s Labor Market Outcomes

Masanori Hashimoto (), Rick Percy (), Teresa Schoellner and Bruce Weinberg
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Masanori Hashimoto: Ohio State University
Rick Percy: Capital University
Teresa Schoellner: Ohio State University

No 1207, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We investigate the effects of maternity leave coverage on women’s post-birth wages, job tenure, and labor market attachment. We pay particular attention to unobservable characteristics that are correlated with maternity leave coverage and that affect labor market outcomes. We use a control sample, as well as a range of control variables, to address unobserved heterogeneity. We find evidence of substantial selection based on unobserved heterogeneity. Maternity leave effects on the three outcomes are found to be small and shortlived. This finding is understandable given that most policies in the United States allow leaves for only 12 weeks at most.

Keywords: human capital; wages; female labor market; public policy; maternity leave (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J0 J1 J13 J16 J3 J38 J39 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33 pages
Date: 2004-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (27)

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