From homemakers to breadwinners? How mandatory kindergarten affects maternal labour market outcomes

Gangl S, Huber M (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Journal of Population Economics Springer Verlag (Germany)

Book Volume: 38

Article Number: 44

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1007/s00148-025-01099-y

Abstract

The majority of Swiss children attend mandatory and cost-free kindergarten at age four. We examine the effect of this policy on maternal labour market outcomes. Using administrative data from Switzerland, we exploit the birthday cut-off for kindergarten entry in the same or in the following year and apply a non-parametric regression discontinuity design (RDD). We find that mandatory kindergarten has a statistically significant positive effect on the labour market attachment of previously non-employed mothers, increasing their employment probability by 4 percentage points. In contrast, there are no significant effects on other groups or in the total sample of mothers.

Authors with CRIS profile

Selina Gangl Lehrstuhl für Statistik und empirische Wirtschaftsforschung

Involved external institutions

University of Fribourg / Universitè de Fribourg CH Switzerland (CH)

How to cite

APA:

Gangl, S., & Huber, M. (2025). From homemakers to breadwinners? How mandatory kindergarten affects maternal labour market outcomes. Journal of Population Economics, 38(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00148-025-01099-y

MLA:

Gangl, Selina, and Martin Huber. "From homemakers to breadwinners? How mandatory kindergarten affects maternal labour market outcomes." Journal of Population Economics 38.2 (2025).

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