The Effect of Paid Parental Leave on Breastfeeding, Parental Health and Behavior

48 Pages Posted: 28 Aug 2019

See all articles by Laetitia Lebihan

Laetitia Lebihan

University of Ottawa - Department of Economics

Charles Olivier Mao Takongmo

University of Western Ontario - Department of Economics

Date Written: August 25, 2019

Abstract

Little is known about the effects of paid parental leave (in particular fathers' quotas) on parental health and involvement. In this paper, we exploit a reform that took place in the Canadian province of Quebec to address that important topic. In 2006, Quebec opted out of the federal plan and established its own parental insurance plan, named the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP). This program has lowered the eligibility criteria, increased income replacement and introduced fathers' quotas. Using three data sets, we investigate the impact of the QPIP on breastfeeding and parental health and behavior. Our results show that the reform increased breastfeeding duration and parental involvement. Results also suggest that the policy had limited positive effects on parental health.

Keywords: parental leave, family health, breastfeeding, parental behavior

JEL Classification: I12, I18, J18, I30

Suggested Citation

Lebihan, Laetitia and Mao Takongmo, Charles Olivier, The Effect of Paid Parental Leave on Breastfeeding, Parental Health and Behavior (August 25, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3442406 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3442406

Laetitia Lebihan

University of Ottawa - Department of Economics ( email )

Social Sciences Building Room 9005
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5
Canada

Charles Olivier Mao Takongmo (Contact Author)

University of Western Ontario - Department of Economics ( email )

Social Science Centre, Room 4071
London, Ontario N6A 5C2
Canada

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