Family-Leave Mandates and Female Labor at U.S. Firms: Evidence from a Trade Shock
研究1993年《家庭与医疗休假法》如何影响遭受负面需求冲击的美国企业的性别构成，发现进口竞争加剧会降低受该法约束企业的女性就业、收入和晋升比例，尤其在育龄期和低学历女性中更明显。
Abstract We examine how the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) impacts the gender composition at U.S. firms experiencing a negative demand shock. Combining changes in Chinese imports across industries between 2000 and 2003 and a sharp regression discontinuity to identify FMLA status, we find that an increase in import competition decreases the share of female employment, earnings, and promotions at FMLA relative to non-FMLA firms. This effect is driven by women in prime childbearing ages and without college degrees; and is pronounced at firms with all male managers. These results suggest that job-protected leave mandates may exacerbate gender inequalities in response to adverse shocks.