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

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.

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.