Effects of maternity leave expansion on female labour demand and birth rates : a theoretical analysis

This paper aims to investigate the effects of extended maternity leave on female labour demand and the overall birth rate. To address these issues, we develop two models based on the cost-benefit analysis and optimisation approach respectively. In essence, the models demonstrate several important in...

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Main Authors: Lim, Gan Shu, Vo, Van Hung, Lee, Andrew Kian Loong
Other Authors: Ernie Teo Gin Swee
Format: Final Year Project (FYP)
Language:English
Published: 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10356/42446
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author Lim, Gan Shu
Vo, Van Hung
Lee, Andrew Kian Loong
author2 Ernie Teo Gin Swee
author_facet Ernie Teo Gin Swee
Lim, Gan Shu
Vo, Van Hung
Lee, Andrew Kian Loong
author_sort Lim, Gan Shu
collection NTU
description This paper aims to investigate the effects of extended maternity leave on female labour demand and the overall birth rate. To address these issues, we develop two models based on the cost-benefit analysis and optimisation approach respectively. In essence, the models demonstrate several important insights. First, the effects of more maternity leave on female labour demand depend on the nature of a job, but are generally deleterious to female job applicants. Second, longer maternity leave does not necessarily incentivise women to have more children. To the extent that the models hold true, they imply that extended maternity leave, while an appealing policy option, can actually backfire. There is also a limit to how far birth rates can increase, if at all, in response to a longer period of paid maternity leave, especially in developed countries. This gives rise to the need for policies that influence such fundamentals as attitudes toward having children, rather than maternity leave alone. Given the crucial implications of both models, we recognise the importance of further empirical research in testing their predictive power.
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spelling ntu-10356/424462019-12-10T14:11:34Z Effects of maternity leave expansion on female labour demand and birth rates : a theoretical analysis Lim, Gan Shu Vo, Van Hung Lee, Andrew Kian Loong Ernie Teo Gin Swee School of Humanities and Social Sciences DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women This paper aims to investigate the effects of extended maternity leave on female labour demand and the overall birth rate. To address these issues, we develop two models based on the cost-benefit analysis and optimisation approach respectively. In essence, the models demonstrate several important insights. First, the effects of more maternity leave on female labour demand depend on the nature of a job, but are generally deleterious to female job applicants. Second, longer maternity leave does not necessarily incentivise women to have more children. To the extent that the models hold true, they imply that extended maternity leave, while an appealing policy option, can actually backfire. There is also a limit to how far birth rates can increase, if at all, in response to a longer period of paid maternity leave, especially in developed countries. This gives rise to the need for policies that influence such fundamentals as attitudes toward having children, rather than maternity leave alone. Given the crucial implications of both models, we recognise the importance of further empirical research in testing their predictive power. Bachelor of Arts 2010-12-02T08:11:42Z 2010-12-02T08:11:42Z 2010 2010 Final Year Project (FYP) http://hdl.handle.net/10356/42446 en Nanyang Technological University 38 p. application/pdf
spellingShingle DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women
Lim, Gan Shu
Vo, Van Hung
Lee, Andrew Kian Loong
Effects of maternity leave expansion on female labour demand and birth rates : a theoretical analysis
title Effects of maternity leave expansion on female labour demand and birth rates : a theoretical analysis
title_full Effects of maternity leave expansion on female labour demand and birth rates : a theoretical analysis
title_fullStr Effects of maternity leave expansion on female labour demand and birth rates : a theoretical analysis
title_full_unstemmed Effects of maternity leave expansion on female labour demand and birth rates : a theoretical analysis
title_short Effects of maternity leave expansion on female labour demand and birth rates : a theoretical analysis
title_sort effects of maternity leave expansion on female labour demand and birth rates a theoretical analysis
topic DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women
url http://hdl.handle.net/10356/42446
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