Claudia Hupkau
@claudiahupkau.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Economics, CUNEF Universidad Madrid
Thanks to my amazing coauthors
@libertadgonzalez.bsky.social , @lidiafarre.bsky.social and Jenifer Ruiz-Valenzuela! 🙌
@libertadgonzalez.bsky.social , @lidiafarre.bsky.social and Jenifer Ruiz-Valenzuela! 🙌
Paternity leave in Spain
Between 2017 and 2021, Spain progressively extended paternity leave from 2 to 16 weeks, equalizing it with maternity leave and introducing mandatory weeks. A 2018 reform also allowed fathers to split their leave. Using administrative data on all leave permits since 2016, we analyze trends in paternity leave take-up. Following the introduction of mandatory leave, the share of fathers taking leave increased by around 20 percentage points, and most now use nearly the full entitlement. The share opting to split leave has steadily grown, surpassing 50% by 2023. However, this behavior shows marked heterogeneity: while overall uptake is uniform across groups, leave-splitting is far more common among higher-income fathers and more prevalent in certain sectors. Spain's experience illustrates how policy design can significantly increase paternity leave usage, though workplace flexibility and income-related constraints shape how fathers use that time.
cep.lse.ac.uk
July 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Thanks to my amazing coauthors
@libertadgonzalez.bsky.social , @lidiafarre.bsky.social and Jenifer Ruiz-Valenzuela! 🙌
@libertadgonzalez.bsky.social , @lidiafarre.bsky.social and Jenifer Ruiz-Valenzuela! 🙌
📘 In summary:
Spain’s reforms offer a compelling case for how policy can change behavior - fast.
And they raise big questions for countries still treating paternity leave as optional or symbolic.
Full paper 👉 cep.lse.ac.uk/_NEW/PUBLICA...
@EconTwitter @GenderEcon #EconTwitter
Spain’s reforms offer a compelling case for how policy can change behavior - fast.
And they raise big questions for countries still treating paternity leave as optional or symbolic.
Full paper 👉 cep.lse.ac.uk/_NEW/PUBLICA...
@EconTwitter @GenderEcon #EconTwitter
Paternity leave in Spain
Between 2017 and 2021, Spain progressively extended paternity leave from 2 to 16 weeks, equalizing it with maternity leave and introducing mandatory weeks. A 2018 reform also allowed fathers to split their leave. Using administrative data on all leave permits since 2016, we analyze trends in paternity leave take-up. Following the introduction of mandatory leave, the share of fathers taking leave increased by around 20 percentage points, and most now use nearly the full entitlement. The share opting to split leave has steadily grown, surpassing 50% by 2023. However, this behavior shows marked heterogeneity: while overall uptake is uniform across groups, leave-splitting is far more common among higher-income fathers and more prevalent in certain sectors. Spain's experience illustrates how policy design can significantly increase paternity leave usage, though workplace flexibility and income-related constraints shape how fathers use that time.
cep.lse.ac.uk
July 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
📘 In summary:
Spain’s reforms offer a compelling case for how policy can change behavior - fast.
And they raise big questions for countries still treating paternity leave as optional or symbolic.
Full paper 👉 cep.lse.ac.uk/_NEW/PUBLICA...
@EconTwitter @GenderEcon #EconTwitter
Spain’s reforms offer a compelling case for how policy can change behavior - fast.
And they raise big questions for countries still treating paternity leave as optional or symbolic.
Full paper 👉 cep.lse.ac.uk/_NEW/PUBLICA...
@EconTwitter @GenderEcon #EconTwitter
👨👧👦 What are the broader implications?
Evidence on short-run labor market effects is mixed.
But there’s growing hope that paternity leave may shift long-term gender norms, reduce the child penalty, and promote care equality — if properly designed.
Evidence on short-run labor market effects is mixed.
But there’s growing hope that paternity leave may shift long-term gender norms, reduce the child penalty, and promote care equality — if properly designed.
July 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
👨👧👦 What are the broader implications?
Evidence on short-run labor market effects is mixed.
But there’s growing hope that paternity leave may shift long-term gender norms, reduce the child penalty, and promote care equality — if properly designed.
Evidence on short-run labor market effects is mixed.
But there’s growing hope that paternity leave may shift long-term gender norms, reduce the child penalty, and promote care equality — if properly designed.
The Spanish case suggests that policy design matters.
Three key features stand out:
✔️ Mandatory initial weeks
✔️ Equal duration for fathers and mothers
✔️ No shared/transferable leave (only earmarked)
Three key features stand out:
✔️ Mandatory initial weeks
✔️ Equal duration for fathers and mothers
✔️ No shared/transferable leave (only earmarked)
July 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
The Spanish case suggests that policy design matters.
Three key features stand out:
✔️ Mandatory initial weeks
✔️ Equal duration for fathers and mothers
✔️ No shared/transferable leave (only earmarked)
Three key features stand out:
✔️ Mandatory initial weeks
✔️ Equal duration for fathers and mothers
✔️ No shared/transferable leave (only earmarked)
📊 Leave splitting is more common in certain sectors and less frequent in others; high earners are also more likely to split their leave.
Access to flexibility and job protection still reflects inequality.
Access to flexibility and job protection still reflects inequality.
July 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
📊 Leave splitting is more common in certain sectors and less frequent in others; high earners are also more likely to split their leave.
Access to flexibility and job protection still reflects inequality.
Access to flexibility and job protection still reflects inequality.
⏳ We also see rising use of part-time leave (from 3% in 2019 to 7.1% in 2023).
Flexibility matters — and fathers are increasingly tailoring leave to family needs.
Flexibility matters — and fathers are increasingly tailoring leave to family needs.
July 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
⏳ We also see rising use of part-time leave (from 3% in 2019 to 7.1% in 2023).
Flexibility matters — and fathers are increasingly tailoring leave to family needs.
Flexibility matters — and fathers are increasingly tailoring leave to family needs.
🔀 More than half of fathers now split their leave, taking time off in two or more separate periods.
This was non-existent in 2018.
Splitting likely allows fathers to be home after mothers return to work, helping delay the transition to formal childcare.
This was non-existent in 2018.
Splitting likely allows fathers to be home after mothers return to work, helping delay the transition to formal childcare.
July 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
🔀 More than half of fathers now split their leave, taking time off in two or more separate periods.
This was non-existent in 2018.
Splitting likely allows fathers to be home after mothers return to work, helping delay the transition to formal childcare.
This was non-existent in 2018.
Splitting likely allows fathers to be home after mothers return to work, helping delay the transition to formal childcare.
⏱️ Fathers also take nearly the full 16 weeks available.
After each extension, they immediately adjusted.
Our DiD estimates show significant jumps in leave duration after every reform — a strong behavioral response.
After each extension, they immediately adjusted.
Our DiD estimates show significant jumps in leave duration after every reform — a strong behavioral response.
July 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
⏱️ Fathers also take nearly the full 16 weeks available.
After each extension, they immediately adjusted.
Our DiD estimates show significant jumps in leave duration after every reform — a strong behavioral response.
After each extension, they immediately adjusted.
Our DiD estimates show significant jumps in leave duration after every reform — a strong behavioral response.
📈 Participation rate among fathers rose from 46% in 2016 to 75% by 2023.
As the graph shows, since 2019, when some weeks of leave became mandatory, a higher share of fathers is taking leave than mothers. Why? Because of strong eligibility gaps (mothers work < than fathers).
As the graph shows, since 2019, when some weeks of leave became mandatory, a higher share of fathers is taking leave than mothers. Why? Because of strong eligibility gaps (mothers work < than fathers).
July 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
📈 Participation rate among fathers rose from 46% in 2016 to 75% by 2023.
As the graph shows, since 2019, when some weeks of leave became mandatory, a higher share of fathers is taking leave than mothers. Why? Because of strong eligibility gaps (mothers work < than fathers).
As the graph shows, since 2019, when some weeks of leave became mandatory, a higher share of fathers is taking leave than mothers. Why? Because of strong eligibility gaps (mothers work < than fathers).
🇪🇸 Spain is unique in Europe. Since 2019, it has made part of paternity leave compulsory — starting with 2 weeks, rising to 6.
Today, fathers get 16 weeks of paid, non-transferable leave, the same as mothers.
And this isn’t just on paper. Fathers are taking it.
Today, fathers get 16 weeks of paid, non-transferable leave, the same as mothers.
And this isn’t just on paper. Fathers are taking it.
July 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
🇪🇸 Spain is unique in Europe. Since 2019, it has made part of paternity leave compulsory — starting with 2 weeks, rising to 6.
Today, fathers get 16 weeks of paid, non-transferable leave, the same as mothers.
And this isn’t just on paper. Fathers are taking it.
Today, fathers get 16 weeks of paid, non-transferable leave, the same as mothers.
And this isn’t just on paper. Fathers are taking it.
At @cunef.bsky.social we’re super agile in that respect! I’ll make sure to mention it to applicants in Job Market interviews.
November 27, 2024 at 9:36 AM
At @cunef.bsky.social we’re super agile in that respect! I’ll make sure to mention it to applicants in Job Market interviews.