Subsidising Formal Childcare Versus Grandmothers' Time: Which Policy is More Effective?

Abstract This article quantifies the relative effectiveness of childcare subsidies and subsidies on grandmothers’ time on married mothers’ employment and fertility rates, paying special attention to heterogeneous effects. A heterogeneous agent model, populated by married households who make decisions related to labour supply and fertility, and the Spanish economy are used as a benchmark for calibration. The results indicate that childcare subsidies conditional on employment are more effective than subsidies on grandmothers’ time to foster the participation of married mothers in the labour force. However, they induce women to work fewer hours, unless after-school hours are also subsidised. This overtime subsidy is also necessary for the fertility rate to increase, but it implies a significant adjustment in tax rates to maintain the same fiscal balance. If the aim is simply to raise the employment rate of mothers of children aged 2 years or younger, then subsidising childcare costs only is more effective because the fiscal effort is lower. Regarding the heterogeneous effects, in all the policies studied, the growth in female employment is mainly accounted for by the behaviour of women without tertiary education while that of fertility is accounted for by women with tertiary education. Considerations related to inequality and distributional effects of these policies would also seem to favour childcare subsidies versus subsidies on grandmothers’ time.

Download Full-text

Thresholds of income inequality that mitigate the role of gender inclusive education in promoting gender economic inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa

Social Responsibility Journal ◽

10.1108/srj-04-2019-0118 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Simplice Asongu ◽

Nicholas Odhiambo

Keyword(s):

Income Inequality ◽

Inclusive Education ◽

Gini Coefficient ◽

Tertiary Education ◽

Labour Force ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Female Employment ◽

Content Type ◽

Economic Participation ◽

Sub Saharan

Purpose This study aims to provide the thresholds of inequality that should not be exceeded if gender inclusive education is to enhance gender inclusive formal economic participation in sub-Saharan Africa. Design/methodology/approach The empirical evidence is based on the generalised method of moments and data from 42 countries during the period 2004-2014. Findings The following findings are established. First, inclusive tertiary education unconditionally promotes gender economic inclusion, while the interaction between tertiary education and inequality is unfavourable to gender economic inclusion. Second, a Gini coefficient that nullifies the positive incidence of inclusive tertiary education on female labour force participation is 0.562. Second, the Gini coefficient and Palma ratio that crowd-out the negative unconditional effects of inclusive tertiary education on female unemployment are 0.547 and 6.118, respectively. Third, a 0.578 Gini coefficient, a 0.680 Atkinson index and a 6.557 Palma ratio are critical masses that wipe out the positive unconditional effects of inclusive tertiary education on female employment. The findings associated with lower levels of education are not significant. Practical implications As the main policy implication, income inequality should not be tolerated above the established thresholds for gender inclusive education to promote gender inclusive formal economic participation. Other implications are discussed in the light of sustainable development goals. Originality/value This study complements the existing literature by providing inequality thresholds that should not be exceeded for gender inclusive education to promote the involvement of women in the formal economic sector.

Download Full-text

Higher education, gender, and foreign direct investment: Evidence from OECD countries

Industry and Higher Education ◽

10.1177/0950422221997274 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 095042222199727

Author(s):

George Pantelopoulos

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Foreign Direct Investment ◽

Direct Investment ◽

Tertiary Education ◽

Labour Force ◽

Oecd Countries ◽

Educational Levels ◽

Education Statistics ◽

Level Of Significance ◽

The Relationship

The objective of this study was to explore and empirically investigate the relationship between the labour force across educational levels and foreign direct investment (FDI), and to facilitate comparisons of education statistics and indicators across countries based on uniform and internationally agreed definitions. The analysis focuses on OECD countries. The empirical findings suggest that an educated labour force positively affects inward FDI. However, different educational levels do not have the same level of significance; tertiary education appears to have the greatest influence. As far as gender is concerned, the level of female participation in the workforce seems to be crucial in attracting FDI, and governments should therefore adopt policies to promote women’s empowerment.

Download Full-text

Women’s Vulnerability to the Economic Crisis through the Lens of Part-time Work in Spain

Work Employment and Society ◽

10.1177/09500170211001271 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 095001702110012

Author(s):

Valeria Insarauto

Keyword(s):

Economic Crisis ◽

Labour Supply ◽

Labour Force ◽

Gender Norms ◽

Transmission Mechanism ◽

Female Employment ◽

Time Work ◽

Part Time ◽

Part Time Work

This article studies women’s vulnerability to the economic crisis of 2008 through the lens of part-time work in Spain. It posits that part-time work made the female employment position more fragile by acting as a transmission mechanism of traditional gender norms that establish women as secondary workers. This argument is tested through an analysis of Labour Force Survey data from 2007 to 2014 that examines the influence of the employment situation of the household on women’s part-time employment patterns. The results expose the limited take-up of part-time work but also persistent patterns of involuntariness and underemployment corresponding to negative household employment situations, highlighting the constraining role of gender norms borne by the relative position of part-time work in the configuration of employment structures. The article concludes that, during the crisis, part-time work participated in the re-establishment of women as a family dependent and flexible labour supply, increasing their vulnerability.

Download Full-text

Changing dynamics in female employment around childbirth

Work Employment and Society ◽

10.1177/0950017006064117 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 329-347 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Jan Dirk Vlasblom ◽

Joop Schippers

Keyword(s):

Panel Data ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Labour Force ◽

Work And Family ◽

Female Employment ◽

Full Time ◽

Participation Rates ◽

Female Labour ◽

Policy Measures ◽

The Uk

There is a strong effect of childbirth on female labour supply.This effect, however, is changing over time.This article uses panel data on the last two decades on three European countries (the Netherlands, Germany, the UK) to study changes in female labour force behaviour around childbirth and tries to find an explanation for these changes by looking at differences between the three countries.We conclude that there are substantial differences in participation patterns between the three countries in our study and that policy measures and institutions such as childcare that make the costs of combining work and family lower relative to being a full-time mother seem to increase female participation rates.

Download Full-text

Education and Training in the Labour Force

Labour Employment and Work in New Zealand ◽

10.26686/lew.v0i0.1016 ◽

1970 ◽

Author(s):

Raewyn O'Neill

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Formal Education ◽

Tertiary Education ◽

Labour Force ◽

Education And Training ◽

Green Paper ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Market Outcomes ◽

Capital Development ◽

And Training

In their 1997 green paper on tertiary education the Ministry of Education said, "to ensure our prosperity New Zealand needs to be a 'learning society' recognising the importance for all of our people to continue to develop new skills and knowledge throughout a person’s lifetime." Given the importance of an educated and adaptable workforce, there is surprisingly little information available on education and training undertaken in New Zealand. While some information is collected on those enrolled in study towards formal education qualifications, there is little available information on human capital development beyond this. One of the few sources of information is the Education and Training Survey (ETS), conducted in September 1996. This paper uses information collected in the ETS to look at the characteristics of those participating in education and training as well as the barriers to and reasons for participation in education and training. lt then goes on to compare the labour market outcomes of those people who participated in education and training with those who did not.

Download Full-text

A Family of Hypothesis Tests for a Collection of Short Event Series with an Application to Female Employment Participation

Environment and Planning A Economy and Space ◽

10.1068/a140603 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 603-614 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

R B Davies ◽

R Crouchley ◽

A R Pickles

Keyword(s):

Labour Force ◽

Social Science Research ◽

Science Research ◽

Labour Force Participation ◽

Married Women ◽

Female Employment ◽

Test Procedures ◽

Event Series ◽

Employment Participation ◽

Short Event

Data comprising a collection of short event series are increasingly encountered in social science research. Such series may be expected to be heterogeneous and nonstationary precluding conventional inferential methods. Tests are presented for homogeneity, nonstationarity, and zero order, with appropriate controls. The test procedures are based upon the subdivision of each series into a ‘conditioning sequence’ and an ‘experimental observation’. The tests are applied to data on labour force participation by married women.

Download Full-text

The experiences of young people with intellectual disability when transitioning to life after school: A systematic scoping review protocol

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1017999/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lise Ludwig Mogensen ◽

Nicole Sharp ◽

Jenny McDonald ◽

Gabrielle Drake

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Intellectual Disability ◽

Young People ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Tertiary Education ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Adult Life ◽

Current Evidence ◽

After School

Abstract Background: An increasing body of evidence suggests that transitioning from school to adult life can be challenging for young people with intellectual disability. Transition from secondary school includes preparation of students before leaving school and may continue several years into adult life. Transition challenges may include isolation, mental health problems, and reduced participation in employment and tertiary education. Some literature indicate links between poor post-school outcomes, and ineffective collaboration between school systems, disability services, and employers. Yet, consolidated evidence to understand how young people themselves experience transition from school is needed. The aim of this scoping review is to draw together current literature reporting what is important to young people with intellectual disability about transitioning to life after school. Methods: Using the Joanna Briggs scoping review methodology, a systematic strategy will identify peer-reviewed qualitative research and grey literature reporting the voices of young people with intellectual disability to better understand personal experiences of transition to life after school. The review will explore scope and foci of topics, identify gaps in current evidence, and highlight approaches and methods used by investigators to include young peoples’ own views.Database searches for relevant qualitative research will include ERIC via Proquest, Ovid MEDLINE, selected EbscoHost databases, and Web of Science. Non-indexed and grey literature such as policies and reports will be searched via TROVE, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, and Google (with URL control and by crawling key agency websites). Studies will be selected using a three-step process: i) managing search results and removing duplicates, ii) title and abstract screening by two independent reviewers, and iii) full text review of included articles against inclusion criteria by two independent reviewers. Data will be tabulated, and presented in a narrative summary, aligning with the objectives and scope of this review.Discussion: Review findings will inform policy makers, educators and disability support organisations of transition experiences of young people with intellectual disability. Their identification of transition challenges and enablers will inform the design and implementation of participatory transition processes, ensuring that future guidelines reflect the views of those they intend to support.Registration with OSF DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/YHCDG

Download Full-text

Duality of Female Employment in Pakistan

The Pakistan Development Review ◽

10.30541/v30i4iipp.733-743 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 30 (4II) ◽

pp. 733-743 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Shahnaz Kazi ◽

Bilquees Raza

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Labour Force ◽

Female Employment ◽

Population Census ◽

Labour Force Survey ◽

Formal Sector ◽

Agricultural Census ◽

Employment Of Women ◽

Changes Over Time ◽

Official Data

Before proceeding to the main fmdings of the study it is necessary to briefly mention the problems of data collection on women's employment in Pakistan. The shortcomings of official data sources such as the Labour Force Survey and the Population Census have been pointed out in detail elsewhere [Afzal and Nasir (1987); Government of Pakistan (1986)] here it will suffice to state that women's economic participation is greatly underestimated in official statistics mainly due to unsuitable methods of data collection, inappropriate definitions of activities and stress on recording only one activity, and the cultural inhibition to admitting to women working. Given these problems the present study relies primarily on data from intensive micro-level surveys and the Agricultural Census in the case of informal ,sector employment of women since the limitations of official data are particularly " acute in these occupations, while estimates of changes over time in women's share of formal sector jobs (professionals, clerical, administrative and organized industry) are mainly based on Labour Force Survey data.

Download Full-text

Exploring Women's Work Decision in Malaysia

Social and Management Research Journal ◽

10.24191/smrj.v12i2.5046 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 53

Author(s):

Peck Leong Tan ◽

Ruzita Baah ◽

Geetha Subramaniam ◽

Hadijah Iberahim

Keyword(s):

Tertiary Education ◽

Labour Force ◽

Labour Force Participation ◽

Educational Background ◽

Women's Work ◽

Social Differences ◽

Female Labour ◽

Tertiary Institutions ◽

Women’S Work ◽

Malaysian Women

Over the years, the educational level of Malaysian women has increased tremendously with more women than men in the tertiary institutions. Nevertheless, investment in female human capital has not been translated into more women in the workforce. Therefore this study aims to explore the work decision of Malaysian women. Results from the survey of 553 women reveal that nearly all women expressed that they are willing to work after completing their tertiary education but they feel that support and influence from families are the most important deciding factors in influencing women’s decision to work. Furthermore, economic and social differences also play vital roles in women’s work decision. Women from poorer families and with lower educational background tend to focus on their financial needs as priority in their work decision. On the other hand, women with higher educational background and who come from richer families tend to choose jobs that will allow them to achieve their goals and also bring great self satisfaction. Therefore, various strategies targeting different women need to be done to increase the labour force participation of Malaysian women. Keywords: Work Decision, Women Work, Female Labour Force Participation

Download Full-text

Labour market impact of four recessions on women and men in Greece: Comparative analysis in a long term perspective

Social Cohesion and Development ◽

10.12681/scad.8978 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maria Karamessini

Keyword(s):

Labour Market ◽

Labour Force ◽

Female Employment ◽

Market Impact ◽

Tertiary Sector ◽

Current Crisis ◽

Services Sector ◽

Current Economic Crisis ◽

Labour Market Impact

The current economic crisis in Greece has produced a dramatic fall in male and female employment and driven unemployment to historically unprecedented levels. This article compares gender differences in the labour market impact of the current crisis with those of the three previous recessions: 1974, 1980-83, 1990-1993. We have found large discrepancies in the gender impact between the four recessions. These are due to differences in their nature and duration, the sectors and industries hit each time and the trends of women’s labour force participation before the eruption of the crisis. The structural nature of the current crisis and the negative repercussions of the deep and prolonged recession on the services sector that concentrates the great bulk of female employment explain why the gendered labour market impact of the current crisis is different from that of previous recessions. Male employment has been more hit than female employment until now, but the spread of the recession to services reversed the long term trend of increase in the female employment rate. By contrast, in all three previous recessions, the tertiary sector had played a protective, compensating and enhancing role for women’s employment.

Download Full-text