I truly enjoyed every minute of my stay! Thanks so much for having me and for all the discussions!

Thank you for a fantastic visit. I really enjoyed my stay with many great conversations and a very welcoming atmosphere! Hope to see you all again soon.

Thanks so much. It took some time :)

👉 For all the details (data, methods, and more findings), check out the full paper published in European Economic Review. Read it here: doi.org/10.1016/j.eu...

#GenderEquality #Economics

Better news: smart policy can help! In 2007, Germany overhauled parental leave (introducing Elterngeld) to encourage quicker returns to work. It worked – the long-run motherhood penalty fell by ~5–10%, helping to stop the gender gap from growing further.

Policy matters: 1979–1992, Germany expanded paid parental leave from 2 months to 36 months! Well-intended, but longer breaks kept moms out of work. We find these reforms alone explain ~1/3 of the rise in child-related gender inequality over that period.

📈 Particularly, the 'motherhood penalty' has ballooned over time. In the 1960s, 10 years after having a child, a German mother's earnings were ~35% lower than if she never had kids. By the 2000s, due to children, moms' earnings were ~60% lower a decade after birth.

Drivers of the increase: Fewer women having kids (✅ small gap reduction), bigger child penalty (❌ gap widens), higher moms' earning potential (❌ gap widens). The last two forces dominate, causing child-related inequality to surge.