This paper presents a theory where increases in female labor force participation and reductions in the gender wage-gap are generated as part of a single process of demographic transition, characterized by reductions in mortality and fertility. The paper suggests a link between changes in...

This paper aims to estimate the effects of maternity leave legislation in women’s wages and employment in Brazil. We analyze the impact of an increase in the leave period, which was raised from 12 weeks to 120 days, as prescribed by the Federal Constitution of 1998. According to the...

"Produktion und Reproduktion in einer Gesellschaft, ihre Arbeits- und Sozialordnung sowie die gesamtgesellschaftlichen Arrangements in Familie und Erwerbsarbeit basieren auf einem mehr oder weniger explizit formulierten 'Gesellschaftsvertrag' (social contract). Der jeweilige 'social contract'...

This investigation draws on detailed, longitudinal sample survey data to examine declining fertility in East Germany. Since the unification of Germany in 1990, the fertility rate in East Germany has been halved-falling well below that of West Germany, which was already among the lowest in the...

This paper uses data from the European Community Household Panel surveys of 1994 and 1996 to study the association between changes in care-giving and changes in weekly work hours. Our sample comprises women aged 45-59 years who participated in the labour force in at least one of the two years...

It is a well-established fact that mothers' labour force participation reacts differently todifferent types of family benefits. It is also already well-known that cultural and religiousfactors have an impact on their labour force participation. But does the labour forcereaction to family...

Obesity is increasing worldwide for both adults and children. Genetic disposition is responsible for some variation in body weight but cannot explain the dramatic increase in the last two decades. The increase must be due to structural and behavioral changes. One such behavioral change is the...

This paper examines the evolution of female labor market outcomes from 1987 to 2008 by assessing the role of changing labor demand requirements in four developing countries: Brazil, Mexico, India and Thailand. The results highlight the importance of structural change in reducing gender...