Zitatform

Waights, Sevrin (2022): Parental Leave Benefits and Child Penalties. (DIW-Diskussionspapiere 2016), Berlin, 45 S.

Abstract

"I use the universe of tax returns in Germany and a regression kink design to estimate the impact of the benefit amount available to high-earning women after their first childbirth on subsequent within-couple earnings inequality. Lower benefit amounts result in a reduced earnings gap that persists beyond the benefit period for at least nine years after the birth. The longer-term impacts are driven by couples where the mother earned more than the father pre-birth. Simulations suggest it would take a 50% reduction in the benefit amount to completely eliminate long-run child penalties for sample couples. Lower benefits also reduce take-up of paid leave by mothers, lower the chances of having further children, and have no impact on marital stability." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Anderson, Lewis R., Erzsébet Bukodi & Christiaan W. S. Monden (2021): Double Trouble: Does Job Loss Lead to Union Dissolution and Vice Versa? In: European Sociological Review, Jg. 37, H. 3, S. 379-398. DOI:10.1093/esr/jcaa060

Abstract

"A now-substantial literature claims that job loss and union dissolution (the end of a marriage or cohabiting relationship) each increase individuals' risk of the other, highlighting that major negative life events in the labour market and family can spill over across domains. We address three limitations of this research using UK data. First, these associations might arise from unmeasured factors which jointly predispose individuals to the two events. Second, the distinction between job loss (an event) and unemployment (the state it may lead to) has been neglected. Third, where the impact of unemployment has been considered, its duration has not. We simultaneously model both processes: does job loss (or being unemployed) lead to union dissolution, and does union dissolution (or being divorced/separated) lead to job loss? To investigate the role of unobserved, time-invariant confounders, we model the individual-specific effects as random variables allowed to correlate across the models for the two outcomes. Upon allowing such cross-process correlations, we find that job loss and union dissolution have modest and non-significant prospective associations with one another. We also find no support for a connection between being divorced/separated and subsequent job loss. Unemployment appears to increase risk of union dissolution; by attending to duration we uncover gender differences in this relationship." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Baranowska-Rataj, Anna & Mattias Strandh (2021): When things go wrong with you, it hurts me too: The effects of partner's employment status on health in comparative perspective. In: Journal of European Social Policy, Jg. 31, H. 2, S. 143-160. DOI:10.1177/0958928720963330

Abstract

"The effects of changes in employment status on health within couples have attracted increasing attention. This paper contributes to this emerging research by investigating whether the impact of a partner’s employment status on individual self-rated health varies systematically across countries with varying decommodification levels. We use longitudinal data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) and hybrid models. We find that a change in an individual’s employment status may affect the health not just of the person who experiences this transition, but that of his or her partner. The likelihood that such a spillover will occur varies across countries with different decommodification levels. The negative effects of a partner’s employment status on self-rated health are observed when the generosity of welfare state support is limited. The moderating effects of financial support from the state are not very strong, though. They are not robust across all our models and do not extend to all the dimensions of the generosity of welfare state support." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bartels, Charlotte & Cortnie Shupe (2021): Drivers of Participation Elasticities across Europe: Gender or Earner Role within the Household? (DIW-Diskussionspapiere 1969), Berlin, 61 S.

Abstract

"We compute participation tax rates across the EU and find that work disincentives inherent in tax-benefit systems largely depend on household composition and the individual’s earner role within the household. We then estimate participation elasticities using an IV group estimator that enables us to investigate the responsiveness of individuals to work incentives. We contribute to the literature on heterogeneous elasticities by providing estimates for breadwinners and secondary earners separately, according to their potential earnings rather than gender. Our results show an average participation elasticity of 0.0-0.1 among breadwinners and 0.1-0.4 among secondary earners in the EU as well as a high degree of heterogeneity across countries." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Calarco, Jessica McCrory, Emily Meanwell, Elizabeth M. Anderson & Amelia S. Knopf (2021): By Default: How Mothers in Different-Sex Dual-Earner Couples Account for Inequalities in Pandemic Parenting. In: Socius, Jg. 7, S. 1-15. DOI:10.1177/23780231211038783

Abstract

"Mothers did a disproportionate share of the child care during the COVID-19 pandemic—an arrangement that negatively impacted their careers, relationships, and well-being. How did mothers account for these unequal roles? Through interviews and surveys with 55 mothers (and 14 fathers) in different-sex, prepandemic dual-earner couples, we found that mothers (and fathers) justified unequal parenting arrangements based on gendered structural and cultural conditions that made mothers’ disproportionate labor seem “practical” and “natural.” These justifications allowed couples to rely on mothers by default rather than through active negotiation. As a result, many mothers did not feel entitled to seek support with child care from fathers or nonparental caregivers and experienced guilt if they did so. These findings help explain why many mothers have not reentered the workforce, why fathers’ involvement at home waned as the pandemic progressed, and why the pandemic led to growing preferences for inegalitarian divisions of domestic and paid labor." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Carlson, Daniel L. & Richard J. Petts (2021): US Parents' Domestic Labor Over the Course of the COVID-19 Pandemic. (SocArXiv papers), 38 S. DOI:10.31235/osf.io/uwdz6

Abstract

"Objective: This study assesses changes in parents’ divisions of housework and childcare over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: Assessing the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for gender equality requires understanding how and why labor arrangements shifted as the pandemic progressed. Yet, we know little about US parents’ domestic arrangements beyond the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic or how simultaneous changes in men’s and women’s employment, earnings, telework, gender ideologies, and access to care supports may have altered domestic labor arrangements. Method: This study assesses change in parents’ domestic labor using fixed-effects regression on data from a longitudinal panel of 700 different-sex partnered US parents collected at three time points: March 2020, April 2020, and November 2020. Results: Partnered parents’ divisions of housework and childcare became more equal in the early days of the pandemic, but reverted toward pre-pandemic levels by the fall of 2020. Changes in parents’ divisions of domestic labor were largely driven by changes in parents’ labor force conditions, and especially by fathers’ labor force conditions. Decreases in fathers’ labor force participation and increases in telecommuting in April portended increases in partnered fathers’ shares of domestic tasks. As fathers increased time in paid work and returned to in-person work by fall, their shares of domestic labor fell. Conclusion: Overall, results suggest that promoting full-time employment among mothers and greater time at home for fathers are key in facilitating a more equal division of domestic labor within families post-pandemic" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Demir, Cemre, Meike Stephan & Arndt Werner (2021): How Do Life Partners and Their Occupational Choice Affect the Path of Transition to Entrepreneurship? A Comparison Between Direct and Indirect Entry into Entrepreneurship. In: Journal of contextual economics, Jg. 141, H. 1/2, S. 47-84. DOI:10.3790/schm.141.1-2.47

Abstract

"Although hybrid entrepreneurship constitutes a significant share of entrepreneurial activity, research on this topic is still in its infancy. Moreover, in general entrepreneurship research only few studies have investigated intra-couple influences on the decision to be and to become self-employed. Therefore, in the study at hand, we use panel data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) to analyse whether life partners and their occupational choice relate to wage workers' propensity to enter full-time entrepreneurship either directly or indirectly via hybrid entrepreneurship. Drawing on social capital theory, this study also tests whether the results are different for men and women. Although hypothesised, we find no empirical evidence for the relevance of life partners and their occupations on direct transition to full-time entrepreneurship. For women, however, our findings do suggest that having a self-employed life partner significantly increases their propensity to enter entrepreneurship indirectly, that is, via hybrid entrepreneurship." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Fernández-Kranz, Daniel & Jennifer Louise Roff (2021): The Effect of Alimony Reform on Married Women's Labor Supply: Evidence from the American Time Use Survey. (IZA discussion paper 14949), Bonn, 41 S.

Abstract

"Reforms that reduce alimony can affect married couples in two different ways. First, reduced alimony lowers the bargaining power of the payee, usually the wife. Second, reduced alimony lowers the incentives of wives to engage in the traditional male breadwinner model of household specialization. Using the American Time Use Survey and exploiting a series of recent reforms in several US states that reduced the entitlements of eligible spouses, we find that wives surprised by the reforms reacted by moving away from the traditional male breadwinner model of household specialization. We also find that highly educated women substituted work for time devoted to housework and childcare, while less educated wives substituted work for leisure and personal time. We find no effects for men. The fact that the reforms reduced fertility only among women with higher education suggests that the difference between them and less educated wives in the response to reduced alimony is due, at least in part, to differences in their preferences and costs for children. The estimated effects are larger among couples with a large difference in the earnings potential of spouses and are robust to several sensitivity tests." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Hennecke, Juliane & Clemens Hetschko (2021): Do You Really Want to Share Everything? The Wellbeing of Work-Linked Couples. (IZA discussion paper 14239), Bonn, 51 S.

Abstract

"Work as well as family life are crucial sources of human wellbeing, which however often interfere. This is especially so if partners work in the same occupation or industry. At the same time, being work-linked may benefit their career success. Still, surprisingly little is known about the wellbeing of work-linked couples. Our study fills this gap by examining the satisfaction differences between work-linked and non-work-linked partners. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP, 2019), we estimate the effect of working in the same occupation and/or industry on life satisfaction as well as satisfaction with four areas of life: income, work, family and leisure. In the process, we employ pooled OLS estimations and instrumental variable strategies, for instance based on the gender disparity in industries and occupations. Our results suggest that being work-linked increases satisfaction with life as well as income and job satisfaction. These findings are consistent with positive assortative matching and mutual career support between work-linked partners. Our conclusions concern hiring couples as a means of recruiting exceptional talent." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Kroneder, Andreas (2021): Ruhestandsentscheidungen im Haushaltskontext. Der Einfluss partnerschaftlicher Machtverhältnisse. (Alter(n) und Gesellschaft), Wiesbaden: Springer VS, 388 S. DOI:10.1007/978-3-658-33487-1

Abstract

"Der Übergang in den Ruhestand ist für viele Betroffene ein biographischer Einschnitt. Eine Vielzahl von Aspekten bestimmt dabei die Entscheidung über das „Wann“ und „Wie“ des Renteneintritts. Ein Aspekt bleibt in der wissenschaftlichen Diskussion eher unberücksichtigt: der Einfluss des persönlichen Umfelds bzw. des Haushaltskontexts. Die vorliegende Studie widmet sich diesem und fokussiert dabei im Besonderen den Einfluss partnerschaftlicher Machtverhältnisse. Anhand einer Sekundäranalyse qualitativer Daten, die im Zuge einer Untersuchung zur Koordination der Ruhestandsentscheidungen von heterosexuellen Doppelverdiener-Paaren entstanden sind, werden die Machtstrukturen genauer untersucht. Dabei werden fünf Typen entwickelt, die zeigen, wie die paarinternen Einflussverhältnisse auf unterschiedliche Weise in die (individuellen) Ruhestandsentscheidungen eingreifen können. Die Studie zeigt darüber hinaus, dass diese dabei nicht alleine verantwortlich sind, sondern dass es auf Haushaltsebene immer zu einem Zusammenspiel mit anderen Aspekten der Ruhestandsentscheidung kommt. Zugleich weist die Studie darauf hin, dass die Partnerschaft von heterosexuellen Doppelverdiener-Paaren nicht ausschließlich als Unterstützungsfaktor beim Übergang in den Ruhestand zu verstehen ist, sondern dass sich zahlreiche Abhängigkeitsstrukturen zwischen Partnerin und Partner verstärken und verschieben können. Da bis jetzt ähnliche Untersuchungen im Feld der Retirement Studies nicht bekannt sind, wird die Studie ihrem explorativen Charakter gerecht." (Autorenreferat, © 2021 Springer)

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Kuehnle, Daniel, Michael Oberfichtner & Kerstin Ostermann (2021): Revisiting Gender Identity and Relative Income within Households - A cautionary tale on the potential pitfalls of density estimators. In: Journal of Applied Econometrics, Jg. 36, H. 7, S. 1065-1073., 2021-04-13. DOI:10.1002/jae.2853

Abstract

"We show that Bertrand et al.’s (QJE 2015) finding of a sharp drop in the relative income distribution within married couples at the point where wives start to earn more than their husbands is unstable across different estimation procedures and varies across contexts. We apply the estimators by McCrary (JoE, 2008, McC) and Cattaneo et al. (JASA, 2020, CJM) to administrative data from the US and Germany and compare their performance in a simulation. Large bins cause McC to substantially over-reject the null hypothesis, and mass points close to the potential discontinuity affect McC more than CJM." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Rueda, Valeria & Guillaume Wilemme (2021): Career Paths with a Two-Body Problem: Occupational Specialization and Geographic Mobility. (Upjohn Institute working paper 346), Kalamazoo, Mich., 25 S. DOI:10.17848/wp21-346

Abstract

"We develop a model of joint job search and occupational choice in which job opportunities can be incompatible inside the couple. Typically, incompatibilities may arise because jobs are not in the same location. We show that the existence of incompatible jobs pushes some couples to sacrifice the career of one partner. The model predicts occupational switches throughout the career and at the time of couple formation. Gendered equilibria, whereby all women (or men) choose the accommodating occupation, may arise. Any element of ex-ante unfavorable gender gaps - for instance, due to discrimination or norms - is amplified and can generate large systemic differences in gender composition between occupations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Walter, Johanna & Verena C. Haun (2021): Positive and negative work reflection, engagement and exhaustion in dual-earner couples: Exploring living with children and work-linkage as moderators. In: German Journal of Human Resource Management, Jg. 35, H. 2, S. 249-273. DOI:10.1177/2397002220964930

Abstract

"Many employees think about their work during off-job time. Scholars have suggested that whether work-related thoughts during off-job time have detrimental or beneficial effects on employees’ well-being and performance depends on the nature of these thoughts. In this study with dual-earner couples we examined whether employees’ positive and negative work reflection during off-job time are associated with their own and with their partners’ work engagement and exhaustion. Furthermore, we investigated whether (a) living with children and (b) being work-linked (i.e. working in the same organisation and/or working in the same profession) moderated these relations. Both partners of 130 German heterosexual dual-earner couples responded to online questionnaires. We estimated multilevel analyses using the actor–partner interdependence model to analyse our dyadic data. We found positive associations between employees’ positive work reflection and both their own and their partners’ work engagement. Employees’ positive work reflection was also associated with their decreased exhaustion. Employees’ negative work reflection was negatively associated with their own work engagement and positively associated with their own exhaustion but unrelated to their partners’ outcomes. Moderator analyses revealed that living with children weakened the link between employees’ positive work reflection and their own work engagement and strengthened the link between their negative work reflection and exhaustion. The presence of couples’ work-linkage did not moderate any of these relations. This study builds on previous research by showing that employees’ positive work-related thinking is not only beneficial to themselves but also to their partners. Furthermore, the results suggest that living with children constitutes an additional demand that reduces the motivational effects of positive work reflection and amplifies the detrimental effects of employees’ negative work reflection." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Abstract

"Der hier vorliegende Neunte Familienbericht ist in einer Zeit intensiver familien- und gesellschaftspolitischer Diskurse und Initiativen entstanden, die unter dem Eindruck vielfältiger Aspekte sozialen Wandels, nach wie vor ungelöster gesellschaftlicher Herausforderungen und markanter Ereignisse stehen. Die Endphase seiner Fertigstellung fiel zusammen mit der Covid-19-Pandemie, die ab März 2020 eine der größten Krisen seit der Wirtschaftskrise vor mehr als zehn Jahren auslöste. Der teilweise lange anhaltende Lockdown zur Abwehr einer übergroßen Ausbreitung des Virus und damit einer Überforderung des Gesundheitssystems hat auch in Deutschland weite Bereiche der Wirtschaft zum Stillstand gebracht, und viele Familien sahen sich in der Betreuung und Beschulung der Kinder auf sich selbst gestellt. Dies hat einzelne Themen noch stärker in den Vordergrund gerückt, als es bei der Konzeption dieses Berichts und der Hauptphase seiner Erarbeitung absehbar war. Fragen der wirtschaftlichen Stabilität, die gelebten Erwerbsmodelle und die damit verbundenen Risiken haben an zentraler Bedeutung gewonnen, ebenso wie Fragen ungleicher Bildungschancen, die durch den zeitweisen Ausfall institutioneller Bildung und Betreuung entscheidend akzentuiert wurden. Bereits vor der Corona-Pandemie mussten viele Familien mit einem kleinen Einkommen wirtschaften und sahen ihre Teilhabechancen, vor allem aber auch die Bildungschancen ihrer Kinder beschränkt. Trotz massiver Bemühungen, das Bildungssystem zu reformieren und der in Deutschland starken „sozialen Vererbung“ von Bildungsressourcen entgegenzuwirken und trotz starker Initiativen zur Entwicklung eines inklusiven Bildungssystems, fallen die Bildungserfolge von Kindern und Jugendlichen je nach sozialer Herkunft und je nach individuellen Beeinträchtigungen noch immer sehr unterschiedlich aus. Darüber hinaus wird im Bereich der Bildungspolitik auf die nach wie vor schwächeren Bildungschancen von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Migrationshintergrund hingewiesen. Schon seit der Anwerbung von Arbeitsmigrantinnen und -migranten in den 1950er-Jahren steht die Diskussion über eine geeignete Integrationspolitik im Raum, die in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten und insbesondere durch die intensive Zuwanderung von Geflüchteten seit 2015 deutlich an Intensität gewonnen hat. Dabei wird zunehmend deutlich, dass sich Integrationsbemühungen auch an Eltern richten müssen und von einer stärkeren Familienorientierung diesbezüglicher Regelungen und Maßnahmen profitieren können. Parallel hierzu hat sich durch die Digitalisierung aller Lebensbereiche das Zusammenleben merklich verändert. Neue Kommunikationstechnologien erleichtern den Austausch im privaten Kreis und in erweiterten sozialen Netzen, helfen bei der raschen Informationssuche, und prägen auch zunehmend die Lern- und Arbeitsbedingungen in Schule, Ausbildung, Studium und Beruf. Gleichzeitig sind neue Anforderungen an Medienkompetenzen entstanden, mit denen alle Nutzenden und vor allem Eltern in ihrer Verantwortung für Kinder und Jugendliche konfrontiert sind. Nicht nur an dieser Stelle wachsen Kita und Schule neue Aufgaben zu, um Kinder und Jugendliche zum kompetenten Umgang mit Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien in der digitalisierten Gesellschaft zu befähigen, sondern auch Eltern Information und Orientierung zu bieten." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Adams, Ayhan & Katrin Golsch (2020): Gender-specific patterns and determinants of spillover between work and family: The role of partner support in dual-earner couples. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 33, H. 1, S. 72-98. DOI:10.20377/jfr-373

Abstract

"Objective: The study investigates how partner support affects different types of work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts in dual-earner couples divided by gender and parenthood. Background: In Germany, as in other Western Countries, interrole conflicts between work and family increase, especially within dual-earner couples. Only few studies focused on the effects of partner support on different types of these conflicts. Method: We use longitudinal data deriving from waves 6 to 10 of the German Family Panel (pairfam) to uncover the extent to which the perception of having a supportive partner reduces time- and strain-based work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts. We conduct longitudinal structural equation models based on information of 1,252 persons, which are full-time employed and live in a dual-earner relationship. Results: Whereas for men partner support helps reduce stress-based work-to-family conflicts, for women perceived partner support is not beneficial. Within a subsample of parents, the experience of work-to-family conflicts is likely irrespective of partner support. Overall, women's family-to-work conflicts appear to be reduced by their partners' support whereas for men this detrimental effect only applies in the case of stress-based family-to-work conflicts. Conclusion: To sum up the findings, the differences for men and women in the effect of partner support on different types of interrole conflicts indicate a still existing impact of traditional gender norms that connect femininity to house work and masculinity to employed work." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Carlson, Matthew W. & Jason D. Hans (2020): Maximizing benefits and minimizing impacts: Dual-earner couples' perceived division of household labor decision-making process. In: Journal of family studies, Jg. 26, H. 2, S. 208-225. DOI:10.1080/13229400.2017.1367712

Abstract

"Researchers have thoroughly documented the various factors that influence couples' division of household labor. Although numerous approaches have been taken to explain these factors that influence the division of household labor, perceptions of the decision-making process of dividing household labor within a marriage is seldom considered and is therefore the focus of this study. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 heterosexual, dual-earner couples. Data were analyzed with grounded theory methodology. Findings included that couples viewed themselves as first attempting to divide household labor in ways that they perceived as being the most beneficial for them as a couple. When issues arose with a particular task or arrangement, or with the division of labor more generally, they made adjustments intended to minimize the negative impact of those issues. Findings are contextualized within the major theories surrounding quantitative data on household labor (i.e. time availability, relative resources, and gender ideology perspectives). Implications for family researchers, educators, and practitioners are discussed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Dieckhoff, Martina, Vanessa Gash, Antje Mertens & Laura Romeu Gordo (2020): Partnered women's contribution to household labor income: Persistent inequalities among couples and their determinants. In: Social science research, Jg. 85. DOI:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2019.102348

Abstract

"This paper explores earnings inequalities within dual-earner couples in East and West Germany drawing on household-level panel data from 1992 to 2016. It has three aims: (1) to analyze how the partner pay gap (the pay gap between partners within one household) has developed over time, given institutional change, and whether the extent of inequality and temporal development vary between East and West Germany; (2) to explore variation in the partner pay gap by male partners' absolute earnings; and (3) to investigate the micro-level determinants of earnings inequalities within couples and determine whether their relevance varies between East and West Germany as well as by male partners’ absolute earnings. We find women earn substantially less than their partners, and our regression results find no indication of a declining partner pay gap. Besides substantial variation between East and West Germany, our results also reveal important group-specific variation in the extent of the partner pay gap as well as in its determinants."(Author's Abstract, IAB-Doku)

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Flèche, Sarah, Anthony Lepinteur & Nattavudh Powdthavee (2020): Gender norms, fairness and relative working hours within households. In: Labour Economics, Jg. 65. DOI:10.1016/j.labeco.2020.101866

Abstract

"Using data in the United States, UK and Germany, we show that women whose working hours exceed those of their male partners report lower life satisfaction on average. By contrast, men do not report lower life satisfaction from working more hours than their female partners. An analysis of possible mechanisms shows that in couples where the woman works more hours than the man, women do not spend significantly less time doing household chores. Women with egalitarian ideologies are likely to perceive this unequal division of labour as unfair, ultimately reducing their life satisfaction." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2020 Elsevier) ((en))

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Konzelmann, Laura, Andreas Mergenthaler & Norbert F. Schneider (2020): Gemeinsam in die Rente? Ruhestand als Projekt für Zweiverdienerpaare. (Bundesinstitut für Bevölkerungsforschung. Policy brief), Wiesbaden, 4 S.

Abstract

"•Der Anteil an Paaren jenseits der 50, bei denen beide Partner erwerbstätig sind, ist in der Vergangenheit stark gestiegen und wird voraussichtlich auch zukünftig weiter steigen.
•Derzeit sind bei mehr als der Hälfte aller Paare zwischen 50 und 69 Jahren beide Partner erwerbstätig (1996 waren es nur 25 Prozent) und bei jedem vierten Paar in diesem Alter sind beide voll erwerbstätig. In Ostdeutschland liegt dieser
Anteil sogar bei knapp 40 Prozent.
•Der gemeinsame Übergang vom Beruf in den Ruhestand wird daher für immer mehr Menschen zu einem Lebensprojekt. Dies gilt insbesondere für Paare mit einem großen Altersabstand.
•Die Synchronisierung des Renteneintritts zwischen Partnern kann zu Abweichungen vom Regelalter des Renteneintritts führen und ist daher auch sozialpolitisch relevant." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Marynissen, Leen, Karel Neels, Jonas Wood & Sarah Van de Velde (2020): Ready for parenthood? Dual earners' relative labour market positions and entry into parenthood in Belgium. In: Demographic Research, Jg. 42, S. 901-932. DOI:10.4054/DemRes.2020.42.33

Abstract

"Background: Rising symmetry in public gender roles as a result of women's rising educational and labour market participation could make both partners' labour market positions equally relevant with respect to family formation. It is, however, unclear whether and to what extent this evolution has materialised. To date, few studies have examined couple dynamics in the employment–fertility link, and especially the gendered nature of this link remains understudied. Objective: This study examines the effect of dual earners' relative income, job stability, time availability, and employment-sector-specific flexibility in terms of work regimes on the transition to parenthood in Belgium. Methods: Using longitudinal microdata from the Belgian Administrative Socio-Demographic Panel, we estimate discrete-time hazard models of conception leading to a first birth. Results: Controlling for employment characteristics at the household level, we find higher first birth hazards when the female partner has higher time availability or access to flexible work regimes, suggesting a persistent gendered precondition to parenthood. By contrast, the gender distribution of income does not affect the transition to parenthood. Contribution: This study adds to the literature by simultaneously considering a broad array of partners' employment characteristics in an institutional setting that strongly focuses on facilitating the work–family combination. Our findings suggest that there is a shift away from a traditionally gendered fulfilment of labour market preconditions to parenthood in dual earner couples, but not unambiguously towards gender-neutral patterns. Particularly, the time availability and access to flexible work regimes of the female partner rather than the male partner seem to be of importance in the couples' transition to parenthood.
" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Max-Planck-Institut für demographische Forschung) ((en))