Ylenia Brilli (Ca' Foscari University of Venice)
Bernardo Fanfani and Daniela Piazzalunga
This paper exploits rich administrative linked employer-employee data on Italy to analyze the relationship between temporary employment and fertility. The paper provides three main results. First, we document a robust gender gap in permanent contracts, even after controlling for experience, occupation, and local labor market segregation. Second, we estimate a negative effect of temporary contracts on fertility, by using OLS and IV strategies, which aim at accounting for endogeneity issues. Third, we show that the importance of having a permanent contract for fertility choices also affects the likelihood of having a permanent contract for both men and women, with women being even more penalized; we argue that this differential effect may be due to statistical discrimination.