The effect of flexibility in working hours on fertility: A comparative analysis of selected european countries

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to measure the extent to which part-time work enhances fertility for married or cohabiting women of fertile age. The study covers eleven European countries. The data used are a pool sample of five waves of the European Community Household Panel. Given that we believe that the decisions concerning fertility and labor market status are taken jointly, we carry out a simultaneous estimation approach. Results suggest that policy makers wishing to implement adequate part-time schedules so as to enhance fertility should look at the part-time schedules available in Belgium, Ireland and The Netherlands, which enhance fertility for women who take advantage of this flexibility measure so as to reconcile family and work.The authors acknowledge the financial help received from the FFBVA (1/BBVA 00044.321- 15467/2002), and Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture (BEC2000-1394). Alfredo Ariza is very grateful to ECASS (European Centre for Analysis in Social Sciences) at the ISER of Essex