Childcare, Labor Supply, and Business Development: Experimental Evidence from Uganda

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
Year: 2025
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Pages: 75-101

Authors (6)

Kjetil Bjorvatn (not in RePEc) Denise Ferris (not in RePEc) Selim Gulesci (not in RePEc) Arne Nasgowitz (not in RePEc) Vincent Somville (Norges Handelshøyskole (NHH)) Lore Vandewalle (The Graduate Institute of Inte...)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 6 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We randomly offered a childcare subsidy, an equivalent cash grant, or both to mothers of three-to-five-year-old children. The childcare subsidy substantially increased the labor supply and earnings of single mothers, highlighting the importance of time constraints for them. Among couples, childcare did not affect mothers' labor market outcomes but instead increased fathers' salaried employment. At the household level, childcare led to higher income and consumption and improved child development. Cash grants positively affected mothers' labor supply and income irrespective of the household structure, suggesting the general importance of credit constraints for women's business development.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejapp:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:75-101
Journal Field
General
Author Count
6
Added to Database
2026-01-29