After Getting Paternity Leave, Men in Spain Wanted Fewer Children

A study published in the Journal of Public Economics (Paywall), found Spanish men who were eligible for paternity leave remained more engaged with childcare after their return to work, and their partners were more likely to stay in the workforce as well.

However, the study also revealed that families who were eligible for the paternity leave were less likely to have kids in the future.

Researchers stated to Quartz At Work; they believe that spending more time with their children—or the prospect of having to do so—may have made men more acutely aware of the effort and costs associated with childrearing.

At the same time, women started showing preferences for slightly larger families—perhaps a sign that having more children seemed more desirable with a somewhat more equitable balance of labour at home.

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