"We assess the relative impact of cultural norms and structural conditions on employment interruption patterns of new mothers in reunified Germany, 1992-2009. During this time, East and West Germany share similar family policies, yet, the regions differ markedly with regard to cultural...

Organizational ecology models of market dynamics emphasize the competition-inducing role of inter-organizational niche overlap--targeting similar market niches increases competitive pressure and thus reduces organizations' fitness. Recent studies, however, have suggested that moderate niche...