Elias Ilin, Samantha Shampine, and Ellyn Terry
Working Paper 2022-3
February 2022
Abstract: In this paper, we evaluate the effects of free pre-kindergarten (pre-K) programs on the labor force participation (LFP) of mothers. We use variation in pre-K rules across all US states, including income eligibility requirements in some states. To estimate the causal effects of access to pre-K on labor supply, we exploit the panel aspect of the monthly Current Population Survey between 2002 and 2019. Specifically, we look at the change in labor market behavior of women when their child becomes age-eligible for pre-K, controlling for individual factors. We find that access to free pre-K programs increases overall maternal LFP by 2.3 percentage points. In particular, we find that mothers with the following demographic characteristics significantly increase their labor supply as a result of an access to free pre-K: married, college educated, residents of metropolitan areas, and with income either below 200 percent or above 400 percent of the federal poverty level. Our results are robust across a series of placebo tests and alternative specifications and sample restrictions.
JEL classification: G50, H21, H23, I31, J01, J08, J15, J16, J18, J21, J22
Key words: maternal labor force participation, childcare policies, universal pre-K, gender equality policies, early education policies
https://doi.org/10.29338/wp2022-03
The authors thank participants of the Society of Economics of the Household 2021 conference, seminar participants at Boston University, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City for their insightful comments. The views expressed here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta or the Federal Reserve System. Any remaining errors are the authors' responsibility.
Please address questions regarding content to Elias Ilin, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Samantha Shampine, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City; or Ellyn Terry, University of Washington and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
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