Demographic Consequences of Maternal-Leave Programs in Industrial Countries: Evidence from Fixed-Effects Models

Winegarden, C. R.; Bracy, Paula M.

doi:10.2307/1060738

Cited by 94 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…These two indicators, as well as infant mortality, were reduced by 3 to 4 % per increase of maternity leaves of 10 weeks. In the study of Winegarden et al (1995), a prolongation of maternity leave of 10 % was associated with a decrease in infant mortality of 3 to 5 %. No association was found with low birth weight.…”

Section: Length Of Maternity Leave and Child Healthmentioning

confidence: 94%

Length of maternity leave and health of mother and child – a review

Staehelin

Bertea

Stutz

2007

Int J Public Health

103

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Section: Length Of Maternity Leave and Child Healthmentioning

confidence: 94%

Length of maternity leave and health of mother and child – a review

Staehelin

Bertea

Stutz

2007

Int J Public Health

103

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“…In a pioneering study on the eects of maternity leave, Winegarden & Bracy (1995), used data from 17 OECD countries in four periods 1959, 1969, 1979 and 1989 and found that maternity leave contributed to reductions of the infant mortality rate. The marginal eects from their estimates suggest that an additional week of paid maternity leave was associated with a reduction in infant mortality of approximately 0.5 deaths per 1000 live births.…”

Section: Parental Leave and Child Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of parental leave on child health and postnatal care: Evidence from Australia

Khanam

Nghiem

Connelly

2016

Economic Analysis and Policy

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“…There are also potential connections between more generous leave policies and higher rates of fertility, although there may also be offsetting effects that reduce fertility (if for instance, longer leaves were associated with reduced infant mortality, which in turn would reduce subsequent fertility). 20 These beneficial health effects may come about in part through breast-feeding. Breast-feeding is associated with better health outcomes for children, 23 and women who take leave are more likely to initiate breast-feeding and to continue the practice for a longer period of time.…”

Section: Costs and Benefits Of Long Leavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

International Policies toward Parental Leave and Child Care

Waldfogel¹

2001

The Future of Children

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The pleasures and pressures of parenting a newborn are universal, but the supports surrounding parents vary widely from country to country. In many nations, decades of attention to benefits and services for new parents offer lessons worthy of attention in this country. This article describes policies regarding parental leave, child care, and early childhood benefits here and in 10 industrial nations in North America and Europe. The sharpest contrast separates the United States from the other countries, although differences among the others also are instructive: The right to parental leave is new to American workers; it covers one-half of the private-sector workforce and is relatively short and unpaid. By contrast, other nations offer universal, paid leaves of 10 months or more. Child care assistance in Europe is usually provided through publicly funded programs, whereas the United States relies more on subsidies and tax credits to reimburse parents for part of their child care expenses. Nations vary in the emphasis they place on parental leave versus child care supports for families with children under age three. Each approach creates incentives that influence parents' decisions about employment and child care. Several European nations, seeking flexible solutions for parents, are testing "early childhood benefits" that can be used to supplement income or pay for private child care. Based on this review, the author urges that the United States adopt universal, paid parental leave of at least 10 months; help parents cover more child care costs; and improve the quality of child care. She finds policy packages that support different parental choices promising, because the right mix of leave and care will vary from family to family, and child to child.

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Demographic Consequences of Maternal-Leave Programs in Industrial Countries: Evidence from Fixed-Effects Models

Cited by 94 publications

References 9 publications

Length of maternity leave and health of mother and child – a review

Length of maternity leave and health of mother and child – a review

The effects of parental leave on child health and postnatal care: Evidence from Australia

International Policies toward Parental Leave and Child Care

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