Four essays on the labor supply of married women.

摘要

The essays in my dissertation examine the labor supply decisions of married women.;In Chapter 1, I extend the standard labor supply model to incorporate the structure of the taxation system and fixed costs of employment. This model and estimation strategy serve as the theoretical foundation for the following two empirical chapters.;In Chapter 2, I analyze differences in the labor supply of married women at the extensive and intensive margins between the United States and the United Kingdom. I find that differences in budget constraints and the structure of the taxation system can explain much of the variation between the two countries.;In Chapter 3, I analyze variation in married women's labor supply, at the extensive and intensive margins, over the last twenty five years within the United States. I find that married women have become less responsive to changes in their own and their husband's wages.;In Chapter 4, we look at how differences in child support guideline implementation affect the labor supply decision of mothers prior to divorce. In Percentage of Income states, the child support order depends only on the income of the norm-custodial parent. In Income Shares and Nielson Formula states, the child support order depends on the income of both parents. We find that mothers in Percentage of Income states work less than other states in the years leading up to divorce.