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 …

accompanied by an employment increase of similar magnitude. To understand the absence of labor supply effects, we examine data on …

accordance with employment policies. Although some women participate on an equal footing with men, the "dual earner, gender …