FENICs
Female Employment and Family Formation in National Institutional Contexts
The Dynamics of Employment Around Child Birth
January 2003
J.D. Vlasblom
J.J. Schippers
Utrecht School of Economics
Utrecht University
FENICs
Female Employment and Family Formation in National Institutional Contexts
Patterns of Labour Supply, First Child
0102030405060708090
100
-24 -18 -12 -6 0 6 12 18 24
Months around childbirth
Per
cen
tag
e
Netherlands
Germany
United Kingdom
FENICs
Female Employment and Family Formation in National Institutional Contexts
Effects of Institutions
Institutions provide Incentives (e.g. subsidies) Restrictions (availability)
Relevant institutions (cf. Koopmans): Child care Taxes Maternity leave
FENICs
Female Employment and Family Formation in National Institutional Contexts
Measuring the Effect of Institutions
• Cross country comparison
• Types of welfare states
(cf. Thevenon)
• Changes over time
FENICs
Female Employment and Family Formation in National Institutional Contexts
Changes in Institutions
• NetherlandsMore child care facilities since 1985
• GermanyLonger periods of maternity leaveHigher child related tax deductions
• United KingdomNo large changes
FENICs
Female Employment and Family Formation in National Institutional Contexts
Estimations
• Multinomial logit model on “transition types”
• Estimation results show:
Higher educated women -> more YY, less YN
Older at first birth -> more YY, less YN
-> Changes over time in patterns
FENICs
Female Employment and Family Formation in National Institutional Contexts
Estimated Changes Over Time
Netherlands Germany United Kingdom
1985 1999 1985 1999 1990 1999
YY
YN
NY
NN
20
33
0
47
83
12
0
4
42
35
2
21
9
83
0
8
42
18
4
36
28
18
32
21
FENICs
Female Employment and Family Formation in National Institutional Contexts
Conclusions
• Human capital influences decisions• Changes in institutions affect decisions
Policy implications• Be aware of the effects on institutional changes on
decisions • Be aware of ‘indirect effects’ on income (cf. Davies)
and/or fertility (cf. Gonzales)
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