Centre for Economic and Regional Studies Hungarian Academy of Sciences Centre of Excellence

Start: 05/07/2018 09:00

End: 05/07/2018 11:00

Location: MTA Humán Tudományok Kutatóháza, 1097 Budapest, Tóth Kálmán utca 4. fszt. K13 terem

Description

 

Bíró Anikó

Labour market consequences of motherhood timing: a bounding estimation with imperfect instrument and selectivity  /habilitációs előadás/

 

Abstract:

 

We analyse the causal effects of the timing of first birth on female labour market outcomes. Uncovering these effects helps us understand how motherhood timing has contributed to reductions in gender gaps in pay and participation. We use pregnancy loss as a source of partially exogenous variation in first birth timing. We use detailed health insurance and social security administrative data from Austria to document and address two potential sources of bias when using the pregnancy loss instrument: pregnancy loss has negative mental health effects, and there is positive selection into observed motherhood following a loss. We pursue an identification approach that takes account of and corrects for both biases. We find that uncorrected estimates for the effect of delayed motherhood on female earnings, experience and daily wages are likely too large. Still, we estimate positive and relatively large returns to delay. We therefore consider possible mechanisms for such effects.