THE EFFECT OF MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT AND CHILD CARE ON CHILDREN'S COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT*
构建并估计了一个女性产后就业与儿童照料选择的动态模型，利用美国青年纵向调查数据发现，母亲全职工作并使用一年儿童照料会使儿童能力测试分数降低约1.8%（0.13个标准差），并评估了育儿假和儿童照料政策的影响。
This article develops and estimates a dynamic model of employment and child care decisions of women after childbirth to evaluate the effects of these choices on children's cognitive ability. We use data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to estimate it. Results indicate that the effects of maternal employment and child care on children's ability are negative and sizable. Having a mother that works full‐time and uses child care during one year is associated with a reduction in ability test scores of approximately 1.8% (0.13 standard deviations). We assess the impact of policies related to parental leave and child care on children's outcomes.