Childbirth and Cohort Effects on Mothers' Labour Supply: A Comparative Study Using Life History Data for Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain

Work, Employment and Society, Vol. 24, No. 3, 2010

22 Pages Posted: 19 Jan 2012

See all articles by Didier Fouarge

Didier Fouarge

Maastricht University

Anna Manzoni

North Carolina State University

Ruud Muffels

Tilburg University

Ruud Luijkx

Tilburg University

Date Written: September 1, 2010

Abstract

The negative effect of childbirth on mothers’ labour supply is well documented, though most studies examine only the short-term effects. This study uses retrospective life history data for Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain to investigate the long-term effects of childbirth on mothers’ labour supply for successive birth cohorts. Probit estimates with correction for selection into motherhood and the number of births show strong drops in participation before first childbirths and strong recovery after the birth of the last child, especially in Great Britain. Younger cohorts display a less sharp decline in participation around childbirth and a faster increase in participation in the 20 years after childbirth, especially in the Netherlands. However, mothers’ participation rates do not return to pre-birth levels in any of the countries studied here. Labour market conditions and institutional public support seem to contribute to explaining the cross-country variation in participation after childbirth.

Suggested Citation

Fouarge, Didier and Manzoni, Anna and Muffels, Ruud and Luijkx, Ruud, Childbirth and Cohort Effects on Mothers' Labour Supply: A Comparative Study Using Life History Data for Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain (September 1, 2010). Work, Employment and Society, Vol. 24, No. 3, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1988225

Didier Fouarge (Contact Author)

Maastricht University ( email )

P.O. Box 616
Maastricht, Limburg 6200MD
Netherlands

Anna Manzoni

North Carolina State University ( email )

Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27695
United States

Ruud Muffels

Tilburg University ( email )

Postbus 90153
Tilburg, DC Noord-Brabant 5000 LE
Netherlands
0031134662795 (Phone)
0031134663003 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.uvt.nl/

Ruud Luijkx

Tilburg University ( email )

P.O. Box 90153
Tilburg, DC Noord-Brabant 5000 LE
Netherlands

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