(Non)Persistent Effects of Fertility on Female Labour Supply

38 Pages Posted: 8 Apr 2011

Date Written: December 15, 2010

Abstract

The negative association between fertility and female labour market participation is complicated by the endogeneity of fertility. We address this problem by using an exogenous variation in family size caused by infertility shocks, mainly related to the fact that nature prevents some women from achieving their desired fertility levels. Despite a widely documented reduction of female labour supply around childbirth, using the Bank of Italy's SHIW we find that this effect dissipates over time, with some clues of penalties related to job quality. Results are confirmed exploiting the Istat Birth Survey, with insights of a different impact according to the age of the child.

Keywords: participation, children, motherhood, female employment rate, Italy

JEL Classification: J13, J22, C25

Suggested Citation

Rondinelli, Concetta and Zizza, Roberta, (Non)Persistent Effects of Fertility on Female Labour Supply (December 15, 2010). Bank of Italy Temi di Discussione (Working Paper) No. 783, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1803170 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1803170

Concetta Rondinelli

Bank of Italy ( email )

Via Nazionale 91
Rome, 00184
Italy

Roberta Zizza (Contact Author)

Bank of Italy ( email )

Via Nazionale 91
00184 Roma
Italy

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