market entry especially among higher educated women. In France, the extension of paid leave for second born children in 1994 … reduced labour market entry. We found however, no significant effect of the 1986 reform for third children and the 2004 reform … introducing a paid leave of six months for first-born children. In Hungary, labour market entry of mothers was influenced by …

future.’ In this article, I examine trends in the employment gap between mothers and fathers of young children over the last …In 1985, Gary Becker predicted employment and childcare sex gaps may ‘disappear or be greatly attenuated in the near …, the USA, the UK, and Germany. Substantial closing of the gap in the 1970s and 1980s was followed by stability since then …

, subsidies for external child care, and parental leave payments. We compare the impact on the quantity and quality of children …

during the first year after child birth by 2.1 - 2.8pp (≈ 15 - 20%). However, the policy does not impact maternal employment …

studies the impact of the substantial change in Germany’s parental leave system on maternal employment. The aim of the reform … was to decrease birth-related maternal employment breaks by providing more generous parental benefits for a shorter period … childcare slots. Overall, I did not find significant changes in maternal employment during the first three years of motherhood …

, on the other hand, parental employment reduces the amount of time parents spend with their children. …'s well-being and long-term educational outcomes. The overall effect of maternal and paternal employment on children …, especially those of mothers with young children. This trend has triggered an intense debate about its implications for children …