Child penalties in labor market outcomes are widely documented, yet their root causes remain poorly understood. In this project, we study how parental beliefs shape the emergence of gender inequalities around childbirth. We survey mothers- and fathers-to-be in Denmark on their beliefs about the consequences of different time allocations for income, parental well-being, child development, and social approval. We follow these parents through the first year after childbirth and link the survey data to administrative records on couples’ time allocation and labor market outcomes. Initial results document substantial heterogeneity in beliefs and intended time allocations, both across and within couples. Beliefs systematically predict preferred time allocations. These relationships are weaker for realized allocations, suggesting the presence of optimization constraints.
Presented by:
Paul Hufe (University of Bristol)
Date & time:
October 21, 2026 12:30 pm - October 21, 2026 1:30 pm
Venue:
2N2.4.16 (ISER Large Seminar Room)
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