Template-type: ReDif-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Sommerfeld K. 
Author-Name: Fitzenberger B. 
Author-Name: Steffes S. 
Author-workplace-name: ROA
Title: Causal effects on employment after first birth - A dynamic treatment approach -
Abstract: The effects of childbirth on future labor market outcomes are a key issue for policy discussion. This paper implements a dynamic treatment approach to estimate the effect of having the first child now versus later on future employment for the case of Germany, a country with a long maternity leave coverage. Effect heterogeneity is assessed by estimating ex post outcome regressions. Based on SOEP data, we provide estimates at a monthly frequency. The results show that there are very strong negative employment effects after childbirth. Although the employment loss is reduced over the first five years following childbirth, it does not level off to zero. The employment loss is lower for mothers with a university degree. It is especially high for mediumskilled mothers with long prebirth employment experience. We find a significant reduction in the employment loss for more recent childbirths.
Keywords: Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth; Time Allocation and Labor Supply; 
Classification-JEL: C14; J13; J22; .
Series:  Research Memoranda
Creation-Date: 2013
Number: 010
File-URL: http://pub.maastrichtuniversity.nl/57d3ce91-53f5-4f4f-b18c-b0e515af0b0c
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 636989
Handle: RePEc:unm:umaror:2013010