Cashing in on Education: Women, Childcare, and Prosperity in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

The fi nding, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily refl ect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, the Inter-American Development Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank do not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgement on the part of The World Bank or the Inter-American Development Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Nothing herein shall constitute or be considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges and immunities of The World Bank or IDB, all of which are specifi cally reserved.

Motherhood and flexible jobs: Evidence from Latin American countries

“…For Guatemala, Hallman et al (2005) find that reducing prices of formal childcare has no effect on the extensive margin but has a large positive effect on labour hours. 17 Based on a description of public and private childcare provision in Latin America, Mateo Díaz and Rodríguez-Chamussy (2016) identify large gaps between supply and demand, emphasizing the absence of features that render the existing programmes a feasible and convenient alternative for working parents: adequate age requirements of children, compatible schedules, appropriate coverage and location, reasonable prices and fees, as well as how they connect with parental leaves and compulsory education. 18 Furthermore, we find that mothers show higher employment rates-and lower participation in part-time work, selfemployment, and labour informality-in countries with higher enrolment rates of young children.…”

Motherhood and flexible jobs: Evidence from Latin American countries

“…Furthermore, Berlinski et al (2011) adopt a regression discontinuity design using enrolment cut-off dates and birth dates of children and find that preschool attendance increases mothers' labour force participation whereas no effects are found for enrolled children who are not the youngest in the family. 16 Mateo Díaz and Rodríguez-Chamussy (2016) point out that in the (relatively few) cases in which childcare programmes have not affected female labour force participation this was because they had not been properly tailored to the needs of (potentially) working mothers.…”

“…For Guatemala, Hallman et al (2005) find that reducing prices of formal childcare has no effect on the extensive margin but has a large positive effect on labour hours. 17 Based on a description of public and private childcare provision in Latin America, Mateo Díaz and Rodríguez-Chamussy (2016) identify large gaps between supply and demand, emphasizing the absence of features that render the existing programmes a feasible and convenient alternative for working parents: adequate age requirements of children, compatible schedules, appropriate coverage and location, reasonable prices and fees, as well as how they connect with parental leaves and compulsory education.…”

2015 Latin American and Caribbean Macroeconomic Report: The Labyrinth: How Can Latin America and the Caribbean Navigate the Global Economy

“…Enhancing female participation in the labor force may also enhance productivity, as well as promote gender equality and increase income per capita. Estimates from the region indicate that the loss from low female participation ranges from 3.4% of GDP in the case of Mexico to 17% of GDP for Honduras (Mateo Díaz and Rodríguez-Chamussy, 2015). Estimates for OECD countries include 5% of GDP for the U.S. and 9% of GDP for Japan (Elborgh et al, 2013).…”