Paternity Leave Expansion Increased Fathers’ Participation – but Did Not Alter Family Structures

A recent study examines how four Finnish paternity leave reforms in the 2000s affected union stability and the likelihood of having a second child. An analysis based on registry data shows that more flexible use of paternity leave increased fathers’ uptake of leave but did not broadly affect union stability or fertility. 

Background of the Study 

Lauro Carnicelli, a senior researcher at Labore, examined the paternity leave reforms of 2001, 2003, 2007, and 2010 in his study Effects of Paternity Leave Reforms on Family Structure, evaluating how these changesinfluenced union stability (marriage or cohabitation) and the probability of having a second child. 

The study used registry-based data from Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland) and Statistics Finland, employing a RRD (Regression Discontinuity Design) approach, which exploits the precise timing of policychanges to assess their effects. 

Paternity leave reforms have been used to enhance gender equality and fathers’ involvement in early childcare. At the same time, questions have arisen about whether such reforms could affect family structures orfertility over the long term. 

Flexible Paternity Leave Increased Fathers’ Participation 

The study demonstrates that reforms granting fathers greater freedom to choose the timing of their leave increased leave uptake. 

In particular, the 2010 reform increased the likelihood that younger parents would have a second child and remain together. 

Family Stability Remained Unchanged 

Overall, however, the paternity and parental leave reforms had no statistically significant effect on whether parents stayed together or had additional children. 

Thus, the reforms did not broadly influence family stability or future fertility. 

Conclusions 

“Flexible timing of leave is important for fathers’ leave take‑up. There seems to be no unintended effect of paternity leave expansions. No effect on fertility or union stability across the whole population for the four paternity leave reforms studied,” notes Labore researcher Lauro Carnicelli. 

Although the reforms increased fathers’ involvement, they do not appear to have wide-ranging effects on whether families remain together or whether parents have more children. The findings underscore that theimpacts of parental leave policies may be limited if the goal is to alter family structures or fertility. 

Research

Lauro Carnicelli: Effects of paternity leave reforms on family structure. Labore Working Papers 356.