Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/70679 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 2008-8
Publisher: 
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Abstract: 
Recent trends in the labor force participation of women have brought much public attention to the issue of women opting out. This paper explores the decision of working women to exit the labor market at a time of major transition - the birth of a child - utilizing linked vital statistics, administrative employer, and state welfare records. The results indicate that, consistent with utility maximization theory, women are not just opting out but rather are accurately assessing the potential opportunity and direct labor market costs of their exit decisions and are making workforce exit decisions based on measurable costs and benefits.
Subjects: 
female labor force participation
children
firm and industry dynamics
JEL: 
J22
J21
C24
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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