Influencia de la participación femenina en el mercado laboral sobre la decisión de tener hijos

Abstract

This study identifies the influence of female labor participation on the decision to have children among Ecuadorian women. In Ecuador it has been evidenced that the birth rate has decreased during the last years, while, on the contrary, the employment rate has increased, this would show a possible trade-off between the variables, therefore, the analysis of this relationship becomes relevant in the country; thus, through the application of different estimation methods and with the use of information presented by the National Institute of Statistics and Census it was found that labor participation decreases the probability that women decide to have children, especially in much older age cohorts. In addition, considering the possibility of endogeneity, a simultaneous equations model was used which showed that employed women are less likely to have children, while those who have one or more children are more likely to enter the labor market.