We study the short, medium, and longer run employment effects of a substantial change in the parental leave benefit … heterogeneous response incentives. We find that the reform speeds up the labor market return of both groups of mothers after benefit … effect are changes in social norms and mothers' preferences for economic independence. …

Women's labor force participation has rapidly increased in most countries, but mothers still struggle to achieve a … employment. Family policies that subsidize childcare and increase its availability have different effects on female labor supply … may depend on countryspecific pre-reform female employment and earnings, and childcare availability, costs, and quality. …

I estimate the effect of paid maternity leave on mothers probability of employment after birth, how this effect varies … capital measures, and attitudes towards nonmaternal care. Mothers appear to delay their return to work after a birth if they …