Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/30441 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 2743
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
This study is the first to estimate mother's marginal willingness to pay (MWP) for job amenities directly. Its identification strategy relies on German maternity leave length. The key aspect of the maternal leave framework is that mothers can decide whether and when to return to their guaranteed job. Thus, in contrast to previous studies that analyze the job search of employed workers, this framework allows us to overcome the limitation of not observing the wage/amenity offer process. A theoretical model of the leave length decision is derived from a random utility approach. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel and the Qualification and Career Survey, this model is estimated by a discrete duration method. The MWP for amenities can be inferred through the estimated elasticities of the leave length with respect to the amenities and the wage. The results provide evidence that mothers are willing to sacrifice a significant fraction of their wage to reduce hazards (22%) and to enjoy a flexible working schedule (36-56%).
Subjects: 
marginal willingness to pay
maternal labor supply
discrete duration models
JEL: 
J31
J33
J22
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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