The effect of maternal employment and child care on children's cognitive development

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bernal, Raquel
• 署名单位: Universidad de los Andes (Colombia)
• 刊物名称: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0020-6598
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2354.2008.00510.x
• 发表日期: 2008
• 页码: 1173-1209
• 关键词: participation; constraints; models

摘要

This article develops and estimates a dynamic model of employment and child care decisions of women after childbirth to evaluate the effects of these choices on children's cognitive ability. We use data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to estimate it. Results indicate that the effects of maternal employment and child care on children's ability are negative and sizable. Having a mother that works full-time and uses child care during one year is associated with a reduction in ability test scores of approximately 1.8% (0.13 standard deviations). We assess the impact of policies related to parental leave and child care on children's outcomes.