Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/265367 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
GLO Discussion Paper No. 1184
Publisher: 
Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen
Abstract: 
Supporting working mothers to balance their work and childcare responsibilities is a central objective of maternal and parental leave policies. Nearly all countries offer some forms of maternity and family leave programs for childbearing on a national basis. This chapter reviews various types of leave policies available for working mothers (or parents) across countries and whether and how the policies affect women's labor market outcomes, their own and children's health, and child development. The leave policies can also influence women's fertility choices, as well as household specialization and husbands' labor supply. Recent studies also note the potential impacts on employers and coworkers of mothers who are on leave. One message that this chapter draws from the vast literature - with diverse and, in some instances, contradictory findings - is that policy debates should not center around whether or not governments should offer paid leave; rather they should focus on how to design more efficient or optimal leave programs. This chapter discusses some preliminary lessons for designing a leave program.
Subjects: 
maternity leave
parental leave
gender role
birth outcomes
breastfeeding
infant health
children's outcomes
mothers' health
labor supply
fertility
divorce
JEL: 
H31
I12
I18
J21
J22
J16
J71
J78
J22
J12
J13
J38
J83
J88
K36
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.