" Studies Show " : Or Do They?

This study generates causal estimates but does not directly test for the effect of paid leave on hours worked. Rather, the study examines the likelihood of being employed four quarters after taking leave and findsnosignificant relationship between this variable and paid leave.In a nod to the potential economic tradeoffs of mandating paid parental leave, the Upshot reassures us that: surveys have found  either no effect or a positive effect on productivity and turnover.The cited survey suggests that the overwhelming majority of employers find that paid leave has no effect or a positive effect on productivity, profitability, turnover, and morale. If this is true, why is mandated paid leave necessary? Are employers unable to recognize when a policy is in their own interest?Cain and Miller survey the extensive labor economics literature and present what they consider to be the most convincing empirical case that mandated paid parental leave would be beneficial for California. Given the foregoing caveats, however, this case is unconvincing.Please read my colleague Vanessa Brown Calder ’spolicy analysis. Therein you will find a sophisticated discussion of the economic tradeoffs that mandatory paid leave entails: higher unemployment for certain groups, intra-employee redistribution, non-leave margin adjustments, etc.  

Source: Cato-at-liberty - January 25, 2019 Category: American Health Authors: Derek Bonett Source Type: blogs