Non-Environmental Cost-Benefit News

The Effects of a Mother's Return to Work Decision on Child Development in the UK
by Paul Gregg, Elizabeth Washbrook, Carol Propper, Simon Burgess

The Economic Journal Feb 2005.Vol.115, Iss. 501; pg. F48
Subjects: Effects, Child development, Mothers, Employment, Studies, Demographics, Statistical analysis, Mathematical models
Classification Codes 1220 Social trends & culture, 9130 Experimental/theoretical, 9175 Western Europe
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=807880641&sid=3&Fmt=2&clientId=13371&RQT=309&VName=PQD

The last 20 years has seen a huge increase in employment among mothers in the first year after giving birth in the UK. We examine whether early maternal employment has an adverse effect on child outcomes. We analyse rich data from a cohort of children born in the UK in the early 1990s and examine the impact of early maternal employment on three outcome variables measuring child cognitive development between four and seven years of age. We also explore whether the effect varies with the mother's educational attainment, lone parent status or the type of replacement non-maternal childcare used.

Maternity leave, early maternal employment and child health and development in the US
by Lawrence M Berger, Jennifer Hill, Jane Waldfogel.
The Economic Journal. London: Feb 2005.Vol.115, Iss. 501; pg. F29
Subjects: Maternity & paternity leaves, Polls & surveys, Child development, Studies, Health, Causality, Statistical analysis
Classification Codes 9130 Experimental/theoretical, 1220 Social trends & culture, 9190 United States, 6400 Employee benefits & compensation
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=807878961&sid=3&Fmt=2&clientId=13371&RQT=309&VName=PQD

This paper uses data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to explore links between mothers' returns to work within 12 weeks of giving birth and health and developmental outcomes for their children. OLS models and propensity score matching methods are utilised to account for selection bias. Considerable associations between early returns to work and children's outcomes are found suggesting causal relationships between early returns to work and reductions in breastfeeding and immunisations, as well as increases in externalising behaviour problems. These results are generally stronger for mothers who return to work full-time within 12 weeks of giving birth.

The Economic Journal http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/servlet/useragent?func=showIssues&code=ecoj
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/toc/ecoj/115/501