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dc.titleThe Effects of Motherhood on Wages and Labor Force Participation: Evidence from Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru
dc.contributor.authorPiras, Claudia
dc.contributor.authorRipani, Laura
dc.contributor.orgunitSustainable Development Department
dc.coverageBolivia
dc.coverageBrazil
dc.coverageEcuador
dc.coveragePeru
dc.date.available2011-10-17T00:00:00
dc.date.issue2005-11-01T00:00:00
dc.description.abstractThis study asks a simple question that has significant implications for gender equality. After decades of increasing female participation in the labor market, advances in the labor legislation and persistent gender wage gaps, what are the effects of motherhood on labor force participation and wages in Latin America? The data presented in this report show that mothers with children under 7 years of age participate less in the labor market than those with no children, except for single mothers. Another interesting result is that female labor force participation generally increases with age and decreases with family responsibilities. In contrast to the evidence found in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Germany, where mothers earn lower wages than women with no children, the results for Latin America do not show a homogeneous impact of motherhood on wages. While in Peru there exists a penalty for mothers of children under 7, in Bolivia and Brazil there is a premium for being a mother. Ecuador shows no significant effects. This heterogeneity is further investigated by considering public and private sectors, educational levels and age groups. The study finds that wage penalties and premiums are not borne equally among all mothers.
dc.format.extent27
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0008892
dc.identifier.urlhttps://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/The-Effects-of-Motherhood-on-Wages-and-Labor-Force-Participation-Evidence-from-Bolivia-Brazil-Ecuador-and-Peru.pdf
dc.language.isoen
dc.mediumAdobe PDF
dc.publisherInter-American Development Bank
dc.subjectPoverty
dc.subjectLabor Policy
dc.subjectWomen
dc.subjectWorkforce and Employment
dc.subject.keywordsgender equality, motherhood and wages, women and labor force participation
dc.typeTechnical Notes
idb.identifier.pubnumberTechnical Notes
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