Personal und Organisation

Maternity leave

Working on the project:

Kerstin Pull

In cooperation with:

Dorothea Alewell (Universität Hamburg)

Description:

The economic analysis of maternity leave regulations focuses on the costs of depreciation of human capital. The costs of re-organization, however, are typically neglected. In the current research project, this so-far neglected cost category is emphasized and its potential determinants are analysed. We argue that the costs of re-organization in response to maternity leave will not simply increase with its duration, but will instead be hump-shaped displaying a maximum at medium-leave durations. More than its expected duration, however, the predictability of leave duration will influence the costs of re-organization. Following our theoretical analysis, we compare and assess maternity leave regulations in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, the USA and Japan (ALEWELL/PULL 2001, 2002). Employer co-financed maternity pay further adds to these costs. These are also included in the international comparative analysis and implications are derived for the future regulation of financing maternity leave provisions in Germany which is currently under debate.

Publications:

  • Alewell, Dorothea; Kerstin Pull (2005b): Rechtsschutz für Mütter - eine ökonomische Analyse des Mutterschutzgesetzes und seiner Wirkungen auf die Beschäftigungssituation von Frauen. Zeitschrift für Arbeitsmarktforschung 38(2005)2/3: 341-356.
  • Alewell, Dorothea; Kerstin Pull (2005a): Die Neugestaltung der Finanzierung des Mutterschutzes - Ein Kommentar zum Mutterschutz-Urteil des Bundesverfassungsgerichts. ifo Schnelldienst 58(2005)4: 22-27.
  • Alewell, Dorothea; Kerstin Pull (2004): Mutterschutzbedingte Reorganisationskosten des Arbeitgebers - eine international vergleichende Analyse gesetzlicher Schutzbestimmungen. Zeitschrift für Personalforschung 18(2004)4: 374-395.
  • Alewell, Dorothea; Kerstin Pull (2002): The International Regulation of Maternity Leave. International Business and Economics Research Journal 1(2002)2: 45-60.
  • Alewell, Dorothea; Kerstin Pull (2001): An international comparison and assessment of maternity leave regulation. Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal 22(2001)2/3: 297-326.