Negative effects of long parental leave on maternal health: Evidence from a substantial policy change in Austria
利用奥地利2000年政策改革导致的育儿假时长差异，研究发现2.5年育儿假相比1.5年损害了母亲健康，尤其是心理健康，且对低出生体重婴儿的母亲伤害较小。
I study the effect of parental leave duration on maternal health in the short- to medium-run leveraging variation in parental leave duration induced by an Austrian policy reform in the year 2000. Using rich administrative data and a regression discontinuity framework, I find that long parental leave of 2.5 years instead of 1.5 years deteriorates maternal health. Worse mental health mainly drives this effect. Alternative channels such as differential fertility, long-term employment effects, a change in disposable income or alternative mode of childcare are unlikely to be of main importance. There is substantial heterogeneity with longer leave spells being less harmful for mothers with unhealthy babies proxied by low birth weight.