Paper #1879

Títol:

Can Public Policies Break the Gender Mold? Evidence from Paternity Leave Reforms in Six Countries

Autors:

Sébastien Fontenay i Libertad González Luna

Data:

Gener 2024

Resum:

We investigate the impact of paternity leave policies on gender role attitudes in the next generation. We measure gender-stereotypical attitudes using an Implicit Association Test with 3,000 online respondents in six countries. Using an RD design, we observe a significant reduction (-0.20 SD) in gender-stereotypical attitudes among men born post-paternity leave implementation. This shift influences career choices, as men whose fathers were affected by the reform are more inclined to pursue counter-stereotypical jobs, particularly in high-skilled occupations like healthcare and education. Our findings highlight how paternity leave fosters egalitarian gender norms and affects the occupational choices of the next generation.

Paraules clau:

gender norms, paternity leave, female-dominated occupations, regression discontinuity

Codis JEL:

J08, J13, J16, J18

Àrea de Recerca:

Economia Laboral, Pública, de Desenvolupament i de la Salut

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