Expanding boundaries: The Impact of kindergarten availability on women's employment in China

Abstract

This paper examines the causal effects of kindergarten availability on female employment outcomes in China. Using a regression discontinuity design based on the eligibility rules for kindergarten attendance, we find that kindergarten eligibility increases the probability of rural mothers working in non-agricultural sectors and their working hours in non-agricultural sectors, mainly by reducing time spent on agricultural and unpaid domestic work. However, we do not find a significant effect for urban mothers, possibly due to the availability of private childcare options. We also show that the impact of kindergarten eligibility on rural mothers' non-agricultural employment is stronger for those from low-income households, nuclear families, and with high exposure to traditional gender norms. Moreover, we provide evidence that kindergarten eligibility increases the non-agricultural employment of co-residing grandmothers in rural areas.