@TechReport{iza:izadps:dp18366,
            	author={Bhalotra, Sonia R. and Daysal, N. Meltem and Freget, Louis and Hirani, Jonas Cuzulan and Majumdar, Priyama and Trandafir, Mircea and Wüst, Miriam and Zohar, Tom},
            	title={Postpartum Depression and the Motherhood Penalty},
            	year={2026},
	month={Feb},
            	institution={Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)},
            	address={Bonn},
            	type={IZA Discussion Paper},
            	number={18366},
            	url={https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp18366},
	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},
            }