Family policies and fertility

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 1057-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Wesolowski ◽  
Tommy Ferrarini
Keyword(s):  
Labor Force ◽  
Labor Force Participation ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Female Labor Force Participation ◽  
Fertility Rates ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Female Labor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Traditional Family ◽  
Carer Support

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the link between two different family policy dimensions – one supporting the combination of work and parenthood and one supporting stay-at-home mothers – and fertility rates between 1995 and 2011 in 33 industrialized countries. Design/methodology/approach Total fertility rates were regressed on the two policy dimensions, earner–carer support and traditional–family support, using pooled time-series analysis with country fixed effects and stepwise control for female labor force participation, unemployment rates and GDP. Findings The analyses show that earner–carer support is linked to higher fertility, while traditional–family support is not. Also, higher female labor force participation is linked to higher fertility before GDP is included. Conversely, higher unemployment is correlated with lower fertility levels. Sensitivity analyses with and without day care enrollment on a smaller set of countries show no influence of day care on the results for family policy. Originality/value The results give weight to the argument that family policies supporting the combination of work and parenthood could increase fertility in low-fertility countries, probably mediated in part by female labor force participation. Earnings-related earner–carer support incentivizes women to enter the labor force before parenthood and to return to work after time off with their newborn child, thus supporting a combination of work and parenthood.

scholarly journals Female labor force participation, paid maternity, caste system and under-5 mortality in Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kailash Timilsina ◽  
Yothin Sawangdee ◽  
Pojjana Hunchangsith ◽  
Jongjit Rittirong
Keyword(s):  
Labor Force ◽  
Labor Force Participation ◽  
Maternity Leave ◽  
Female Labor Force Participation ◽  
Cultural Development ◽  
Caste System ◽  
Female Labor ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Risk Of Death

Purpose The under-5 mortality rate in Nepal remains high in comparison to neighboring countries and developed nations. The result of this problem on Nepal’s social, economic, political and cultural development makes it an urgent priority requiring the Nepalese Government to address this issue. The purpose of this paper is to find out if Nepal’s high female labor force participation (FLFP), the caste system and no paid maternity leave are contributing factors to under-5 deaths in Nepal. Design/methodology/approach Data for this study were taken from Nepal’s cross-sectional demographic health survey 2016–2017. The study sample included 5,060 children born to 3,074 mothers in the five years preceding the survey. Data were collected by interviewing respondents via a structured questionnaire selected through stratified random sampling methods. Findings The study found that the hazard ratio for FLFP, the caste of the mother and paid maternity were 1.145, 1.485 and 0.556, respectively, with a p-value <0.001. Therefore, the risk of death in children under-5 years for a working mother, a Terai caste mother and a mother who did not get paid maternity was 14, 45 and 48 percent, respectively, higher than for non-working mothers, mothers from other castes and mothers who got paid maternity. Originality/value This research demonstrated that FLFP, the caste of the mother and paid maternity leave are important factors for determining the risk of death in children under the age of 5.

scholarly journals Female Labor Force Participation in Iran: A Structural Analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Majbouri
Keyword(s):  
Labor Force ◽  
Labor Force Participation ◽  
Female Labor Force Participation ◽  
Married Women ◽  
Labor Market Institutions ◽  
Fertility Rates ◽  
Market Institutions ◽  
Female Labor ◽  
Extensive And Intensive Margins ◽  
Women's Participation

AbstractLow female labor force participation (FLFP) rate in Iran, at the time that women’s education has been rising and their fertility rates have been falling, has remained a puzzle. By estimating elasticities of participation and hours with respect to wages (the extensive and intensive margins), this paper tries to shed some light on this puzzle. Using a structural estimation and controlling for selection, it depicts that the elasticity of women’s participation in the labor force with respect to wages is quite large, especially for married women. Based on this, one may argue that women’s participation is very sensitive to wages. But this is not consistent with the stylized facts about FLFP in Iran. The plausible implication of such elasticities, however, is that non-participating women have potential wages close to the wages of those who participate. Therefore, lower potential wages cannot be the factor that strongly dissuades women from participation. Instead, anticipated factors, such as labor market institutions and preferences, could be the underlying force hindering women from participation. The low FLFP rate can be explained better in light of these findings. The implications for policy and research are discussed.

scholarly journals Birth cohorts, marriage patterns, and contraceptive methods used among women in contemporary Myanmar

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-219
Author(s):  
Nyein Chan ◽  
Yothin Sawangdee ◽  
Umaporn Pattaravanich ◽  
Charamporn Holumyong ◽  
Aphichat Chamratrithirong
Keyword(s):  
Labor Force ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Labor Force Participation ◽  
Media Exposure ◽  
Wealth Index ◽  
Female Labor Force Participation ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Contraceptive Methods ◽  
Female Labor ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe total fertility rate in Myanmar stands low in comparison to neighboring countries. This decrease in the birth rate will lead to a decline in the number of young Burmese in the future, an issue that is of concern to the Myanmar government. The purpose of this study was to review the contributing factors to marriage and birth rates and to also review the use of contraception among married women.Design/methodology/approachThis quantitative research study was based on cross-sectional secondary data available from the Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey 2015–2016. The study sample included 6,138 women of reproductive age.FindingsThe proportion of unmarried women and the mean age at the first marriage date in the early cohort was higher than that of the women who were born in the later cohort. The study shows that birth cohort, female labor force participation, migration, wealth index, and media exposure are significant in explaining marriage types and patterns (p < 0.05). The injection and the pill were the most popular contraceptive methods for both cohorts. Other methods such as intrauterine devices, implants, and condoms were not as popular.Originality/valueThis paper presents the birth cohort, female labor force participation, migration, wealth index, and media exposure as key factors for determining the timing of marriage.

Economic growth, disparity, and determinants of female labor force participation

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reena Kumari
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Labor Force ◽  
Labor Force Participation ◽  
Female Labor Force Participation ◽  
Work Participation ◽  
Labor Participation ◽  
Female Labor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the themes of relationship between female labor force participation (FLFP) and economic growth, gender disparity in work participation; and to identify the factors which determine females to participate in labor market. The paper uses a framework incorporating a U-shaped relationship between FLFP and economic growth, gender wise wage disparity and economic, social, cultural and other factors which affects FLFP.Design/methodology/approachThematically, the selected literature falls into three main categories: the relationship between FLFP and economic growth; disparity in work participation in terms of male and female wages; and drivers or determinants of FLFP which have been described using international documents and experiences of the different countries. The review closes by identifying gaps in the existing research base and by suggesting areas for inquiry that have been untouched and warrant further research.FindingsThe key findings emerging from this examination of literature show that the FLFP rate exhibits a U-shaped during the process of economic development. Also, there are evidences of gender pay disparity across the sectors which have been justified by documenting a large number of existing literatures. Demographic factors (including fertility, migration, marriages and child care), economic factors (including unemployment, per capita income, non-farm job and infrastructure) and other explanatory variables which include the regulatory context encompassing family and childcare policies, tax regimes, and presence of subsidized health-care for workers determine the FLFP.Practical implicationsThis paper suggests that in order to bring equality in gender pay gap, there is a requirement of replacing the traditional value system. There is need to provide an environment in which women are encouraged and supported in their efforts, in which women have equitable access to resources and opportunities.Social implicationsThis paper addresses the impact of education, culture and child care subsidies on female labor participation. They positively impact FLFP and such a link has not been sufficiently addressed in prior literature.Originality/valueIn contrast to previous studies which document a broad-based picture of female work participation, this type of research deals with the link between economic growth and female labor participation, gender wage disparity and determinants of it which has been largely unexplored so far.

Female Labor Force Participation in Pakistan

10.1596/30197 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman Amir ◽  
Aphichoke Kotikula ◽  
Rohini P. Pande ◽  
Laurent Loic Yves Bossavie ◽  
Upasana Khadka
Keyword(s):  
Labor Force ◽  
Labor Force Participation ◽  
Female Labor Force Participation ◽  
Female Labor
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