Paper #1879
- Title:
- Can Public Policies Break the Gender Mold? Evidence from Paternity Leave Reforms in Six Countries
- Authors:
- Sébastien Fontenay and Libertad González Luna
- Date:
- January 2024
- Abstract:
- 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.
- Keywords:
- gender norms, paternity leave, female-dominated occupations, regression discontinuity
- JEL codes:
- J08, J13, J16, J18
- Area of Research:
- Labour, Public, Development and Health Economics
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