Changes in maternity leave coverage: Implications for fertility, labour force participation and child mortality
Ahmed, S.; Fielding, D.
Social Science and Medicine 241: 112573
2019
ISSN/ISBN: 0277-9536 PMID: 31622819 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112573Document Number: 303436
Analysing macro-panel data from 18 African and Asian countries over the period 1995-2016, this article investigates the effects of the level and duration of paid maternity leave on three dimensions of human development: fertility, female formal-sector employment and infant mortality. There is some evidence that, on average, extending the duration of leave leads to reductions in infant mortality and employment. However, there is no conclusive evidence that leave duration has a direct effect on fertility. In contrast, there is some evidence that higher maternity leave payments lead to higher fertility, but no evidence that payment levels have any effect on infant mortality or employment.