Working Paper: NBER ID: w14660
Authors: Wenjui Han; Christopher Ruhm; Jane Waldfogel; Elizabeth Washbrook
Abstract: This paper examines how the public policy environment in the United States affects work by new mothers following childbirth. We examine four types of policies that vary across states and affect the budget constraint in different ways. The policy environment has important effects, particularly for less advantaged mothers. There is a potential conflict between policies aiming to increase maternal employment and those maximizing the choices available to families with young children. However, this tradeoff is not absolute since some choice-increasing policies (generous child care subsidies and state parental leave laws) foster both choice and higher levels of employment.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: H3; J13; J18; J22
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| state parental leave laws (J22) | probability of mothers working within 12 weeks of childbirth (J22) |
| state parental leave laws (J22) | probability of mothers working by 9 months (J22) |
| lengthy welfare work exemptions (I38) | employment at 9 months post-birth (J22) |
| increase of $1,000 in child care subsidies (J13) | employment at 12 weeks (J22) |
| increase of $1,000 in child care subsidies (J13) | employment at 9 months (J63) |
| TANF benefits (I38) | work participation at 12 weeks (J22) |
| TANF benefits (I38) | employment at 9 months (J63) |
| moving from weak to strong employment incentives in public policy (J68) | fraction of mothers working at or before child’s ninth month (J22) |