Fathers’ Use of Childbirth Leave in Spain The Eff

Authors: Lorenzo Escot José Andrés FernándezCornejo Carlos Poza

Publish Date: 2013/10/18

Volume: 33, Issue: 3, Pages: 419-453

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Abstract

This article investigates for the case of Spain to what extent the introduction in March 2007 of a nontransferable 13day paternity leave has encouraged men to make greater use of childbirth leave Data were drawn from the Spanish Economically Active Population Survey covering the period 2005–2009 We use a natural experiment approach comparing the behavior of wage earners fathers with children of less than 1 year of age before and after the reform and using mothers as control group After estimating a differenceindifferences logistic regression model we obtain statistical evidence that there is a higher percentage of males on leave in the reference week in the postreform period after 2007 The article also analyzes some of the personal and socioeconomic determinants of the fathers’ use of childbirth leave Fathers are more likely to be on leave if they have stability in employment if there are facilities for reconciling work and family life working in the public sector and if the partner is employed The father’s age has an interesting Ushaped influenceThis research was supported by a Grant Number 040/10 from the Institute of Women Ministry of Health Social Services and Equality Spanish Government We would like to thank Stephanie A Bohon the editor and the three anonymous reviewers for their many helpful comments and suggestions

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