%0 Report
        %A Gallen, Yana
%A Joensen, Juanna Schrøter
%A Johansen, Eva Rye
%A Veramendi, Gregory F.
        %T The Labor Market Returns to Delaying Pregnancy
        %D 2026
        %8 2026 Apr
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 18529
        %U https://www.iza.org/publications/dp18529
        %X We study the labor market impact of unplanned pregnancy among women using long-acting reversible contraceptives to delay pregnancy.  While most women successfully delay, some have unplanned pregnancies, providing quasi-random variation in pregnancy timing.  Analyzing linked health and labor market data from Sweden, we find that unplanned pregnancies halt women’s career progression, resulting in income losses of 19% five years later.  We find similar effects of unplanned births among women using short-acting reversible contraceptives.  Using pregnancy as an instrument for birth in a dynamic treatment effect framework, effects of unplanned children are more detrimental for younger women and those enrolled in education.
        %K labor market costs of motherhood
%K fertility
%K contraceptives
%K unplanned pregnancy