Barbara Boelmann, Anna Raute, Uta Schönberg
Despite progress in gender equality, significant labour market disparities persist, particularly impacting mothers after childbirth. This column investigates how cultural norms influence women’s labour supply decisions in reunified Germany. The authors find that East German women maintain higher employment rates post-birth, even after migrating to the West, reflecting the resilience of egalitarian norms. Conversely, West German migrants adopt more egalitarian behaviours in East Germany, suggesting that exposure to supportive environments facilitates cultural adoption. The findings highlight the need to consider cultural dynamics in addressing gender inequalities in the labour market.
Πηγή: Voxeu