Social Policies, Labour Markets and Motherhood
A Comparative Analysis of European Countries

An analysis of the effects of policies aimed to reconcile motherhood and labour market participation.

Daniela del Boca (Edited by), Cécile Wetzels (Edited by)

9780521877411, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 February 2008

336 pages
23.4 x 16 x 2.5 cm, 0.674 kg

Review of the hardback: 'The financial crisis of public pension systems and rocketing welfare expenditure have put fertility and female labour market participation at the centre of the policy debate. The present volume focuses on a particular aspect of this complex phenomenon, namely the nexus between fertility and labour market flexibility, and its relation with national policies towards the family. This book provides welcome relief from the facile explanations one often has to hear in the public debate.' Alessandro Cigno, Professor of Economics, University of Florence

The relationship between fertility and the participation rate of women in the workforce is an increasingly important area of study for economists, demographers and policy-makers. Recent data show important differences in the relationship between employment rates of women and fertility across Europe. For example, in southern Europe, low fertility rates are combined with low rates of female participation. In contrast, Nordic countries are experiencing relatively high fertility rates combined with high female labour market participation. Social Policies, Labour Markets and Motherhood analyses the effects of policies aimed to reconcile motherhood and labour market participation. Making extensive use of European Community Household Panel data, it compares the outcomes of policies in several European countries, analysing why they succeed in some environments but not in others. It will be of interest to researchers, policy-makers and graduate students working on labour markets, population economics, demography and the methodology of applied microeconomics.

List of figures
List of tables
Introduction Danièla Del Boca and Cécile Wetzels
Part I: 1. The position of mothers in a comparative welfare state perspective Danièle Meulders and Síle O'Dorchai
2. Making time for working parents: comparing public childcare provision Jérôme De Henau, Danièle Meulders and Síle O'Dorchai
3. Parents' care and career: comparing parental leave policies Jérôme De Henau, Danièle Meulders and Síle O'Dorchai
4. Support for market care: comparing child cash and tax benefits Jérôme De Henau, Danièle Meulders and Síle O'Dorchai
Part II: 5. Motherhood and participation Daniela Del Boca and Marilena Locatelli
6. The timing of maternity SIV GUSTAFSSON aND EIKO KENJOH
7. Motherhood and wages Cécile Wetzels
Part III: 8. An empirical analysis of the effects of social policies on fertility, Labour market participation and hourly wages of European women Daniela Del Boca, Silvia Pasqua, Chiara Pronzato and Cécile Wetzels
Index.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Labour economics [KCF], Microeconomics [KCC]