Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/177073 
Year of Publication: 
2018
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 11269
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Many governments invest substantial public funds to foster early childhood education. And yet, there are still many open questions who responds to and who benefits from public investments into early childcare. We use the introduction of free public daycare in German states to analyze its effects on children and their families. Our results suggest that effects of the policy differ by child age, gender and socio-economic status. Free daycare increases attendance among 2-3 year olds with little response among older children. Yet, even with access to free daycare, we find few effects on maternal labor supply. Responses are generally stronger for poorer households and other vulnerable families. Child development, in turn, shows gender-specific effects that are in part explained by the differential choices parents of boys make compared to parents of girls.
Subjects: 
childcare
labor supply
family policy
child outcomes
JEL: 
J13
J22
J18
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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