In 1986 German federal parental leave and benefit policy was expanded in several ways, extending the potential duration of leave from six to ten months and paying child-rearing benefits to all new mothers regardless of their employment status before childbirth. The potential duration has...

German federal law has increased the potential duration of maternity leave five times since 1985. A theoretical model is presented that demonstates that the return to work hazard rate declines a potential increases and the cumulative return probability a potential duration cannot decline unless...

German federal law has increased the potential duration of maternity leave five times since 1985. A theoretical model demonstrates that the cumulative return probability at potential duration cannot decline unless the mother's employment conditions or career expectations change. We estimate...

Since 1979 German federal maternity leave and benefit policy has given women incentives to stay at home and take care of their newborn and youngest children. In 1986 this leave and benefit policy was changed in several ways, turning it into a powerful instrument for delaying mothers` return to...

German federal law has increased the potential duration of maternity leave five times since 1985. A theretical model is presented that demonstrates that the return to work hazard rate declines as potential duration cannot decline unless the mother's employment conditions or career expectations...