nep-dem 2026-01-26 papers

on Demographic Economics

Issue of 2026–01–26
two papers chosen by
Héctor Pifarré i Arolas, University of Wisconsin

The Impact of Preschool Entry Age on Children’s Behavioral and Developmental Health in Medicaid By Maya Rossin-Slater; Adrienne Sabety; Aileen Wu
Postpartum Depression and the Motherhood Penalty By Bhalotra. Sonia; Daysal, N. Meltem; Freget, Louis; Hirani, Jonas Cuzulan; Majumdar, Priyama; Trandafir, Mircea; Wust, Miriam; Zohar, Tom

The Impact of Preschool Entry Age on Children’s Behavioral and Developmental Health in Medicaid

By:	Maya Rossin-Slater; Adrienne Sabety; Aileen Wu
Abstract:	We find that preschools facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of conditions that can hinder learning. Low-income children born shortly before their state's school-entry cutoff date are 16.9, 9.3, and 14.8 percent more likely to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a speech or language disorder, and a hearing or vision condition at ages three and four, compared to children born after the cutoff. They are also more likely to receive downstream services. Findings emphasize the role of earlier and longer exposure to public preschool in driving diagnostic gaps previously attributed to elementary school-entry and within-grade peer comparisons.
JEL:	I18 J13
Date:	2026–01
URL:	https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34677

Postpartum Depression and the Motherhood Penalty

By:	Bhalotra. Sonia (University of Warwick); Daysal, N. Meltem (University of Copenhagen); Freget, Louis (Paris-Dauphine PSL); Hirani, Jonas Cuzulan (VIVE); Majumdar, Priyama (University of Warwick); Trandafir, Mircea (Rockwool Foundation); Wust, Miriam (University of Copenhagen); Zohar, Tom (CEMFI)
Abstract:	Using Danish administrative data linked to two independent, validated postpartum depression screenings, we study how postpartum mental health shocks shape women’s labor market trajectories. Event-study estimates show no pre-birth differences in trends between depressed and non-depressed mothers, but persistent employment gaps that widen immediately after birth. Health-care utilization patterns indicate that these differences reflect acute mental health shocks rather than pre-existing trends. The penalties are concentrated among less educated mothers and those in less family-friendly jobs. Our results highlight postpartum depression as a meaningful and unequal contributor to the motherhood penalty.
Keywords:	Postpartum depression ; motherhood penalty ; labor market inequality JEL codes: I12 ; J13 ; J16
Date:	2026
URL:	https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wrk:warwec:1595

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