Extended maternity leave and children's long‐term development

Abstract Countries around the world are increasingly expanding legal maternity leaves, with the dual objective of protecting mothers’ jobs during childbirth recovery and enhancing child development. Using exhaustive census data, we find that a three‐year paid leave in France had zero average effects on children's long‐term schooling achievement, and no detectable impact heterogeneity. The lack of positive effects on children adds to the case against a policy that has strong adverse effects on mothers’ careers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.