Journal Article

Reconciliation policies and the effects of motherhood on employmnent, earnings and poverty

Misra, J., Budig, M. J., Moller, S.
Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, 9:2, 135–155 (2007)

Abstract

We examine the consequences of welfare state strategies on women´s economic outcomes in ten countries. These strategies are 1) the primary caregiver strategy, focused on valuing women´s care work; 2) the primary earner strategy, focused on encouraging women´s employment; 3) the choice strategy, which provides support for women´s employment or caregiving for young children; and 4) the earner-carer strategy, focused on helping men and women balance both care and employment. We analyze the effects of motherhood and marital status on employment rates, annual earnings, and poverty rates. Our study suggests that the strategy taken by the earner-carer strategy may be most effective at increasing equality for both married and single mothers.
The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock is one of the leading demographic research centers in the world. It's part of the Max Planck Society, the internationally renowned German research society.