Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/203477 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
GLO Discussion Paper No. 401
Publisher: 
Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen
Abstract: 
The growth of self-employment and in particular gig work may explain part of the declining fertility rates observed in many countries. This study examines this question drawing on longitudinal data to compare women’s fertility, proxied by maternity leave uptake, when self-employed or wage workers. It considers the case of Portugal, which allows to focus on structural aspects of work types, as fertility-related social protection there does not discriminate between self-employment and wage work. Results indicate that there are no statistically significant differences in fertility between employees and self-employed women. These findings highlight the importance of social protection for the self-employed, at least as far as their fertility is concerned.
Subjects: 
fertility
instrumental variables
maternity leave
self-employment
JEL: 
C26
J13
J24
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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