Public School Availability for Two-Year Olds and Mothers' Labour Supply

Goux, Dominique; Maurin, Eric

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Public School Availability for Two-Year Olds and Mothers' Labour Supply

CEPR Discussion Paper No. DP7299

37 Pages Posted: 15 Jul 2009

See all articles by Dominique Goux

Dominique Goux

National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE)

Eric Maurin

Paris School of Economics (PSE); IZA Institute of Labor Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Date Written: May 2009

Abstract

French children start public school either the year they turn two or the year they turn three. We evaluate the impact of this unique schooling policy on maternal labour supply. Using a Regression-discontinuity design, we show that early school availability has a significant employment effect on lone mothers, but no effect on two-parent families. Also we show that the effect grows larger as the child grows older and as the family loses eligibility for child benefits. Finally, we provide some new evidence that school enrolment at the age of two has no adverse effect on childrens subsequent educational outcomes.

Keywords: Maternal Labor Supply, Preschool

JEL Classification: J13, J22

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Goux, Dominique and Maurin, Eric, Public School Availability for Two-Year Olds and Mothers' Labour Supply (May 2009). CEPR Discussion Paper No. DP7299, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1433894