1. |
- Isaksson, Ann-Sofie, 1980, et al.
(author)
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Chinese aid and local corruption
- 2016
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Considering the mounting criticisms concerning Chinese aid practices, the present paper investigates whether Chinese aid projects fuel local-level corruption in Africa. To this end, we geographically match a new geo-referenced dataset on the subnational allocation of Chinese development finance projects to Africa over the 2000-2012 period with 98,449 respondents from four Afrobarometer survey waves across 29 African countries. By comparing the corruption experiences of individuals who live near a site where a Chinese project is being implemented at the time of the interview to those of individuals living close to a site where a Chinese project will be initiated but where implementation had not yet started at the time of the interview, we control for unobservable time-invariant characteristics that may influence the selection of project sites. The empirical results consistently indicate more widespread local corruption around active Chinese project sites. The effect, which lingers after the project implementation period, is seemingly not driven by an increase in economic activity, but rather seems to signify that the Chinese presence impacts local institutions. Moreover, China stands out from the World Bank and Western bilateral donors in this respect. In particular, whereas the results indicate that Chinese aid projects fuel local corruption but have no observable impact on local economic activity, they suggest that World Bank aid projects stimulate local economic activity without fuelling local corruption.
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2. |
- Isaksson, Ann-Sofie, 1980, et al.
(author)
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Chinese aid and local corruption
- 2018
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In: Journal of Public Economics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0047-2727. ; 159, s. 146-159
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Considering the mounting criticisms concerning Chinese aid practices, the present paper investigates whether Chinese aid projects fuel local-level corruption in Africa. To this end, we geographically match a new geo-referenced dataset on the subnational allocation of Chinese development finance projects to Africa over the 2000–2012 period with 98,449 respondents from four Afrobarometer survey waves across 29 African countries. By comparing the corruption experiences of individuals who live near a site where a Chinese project is being implemented at the time of the interview to those of individuals living close to a site where a Chinese project will be initiated but where implementation had not yet started at the time of the interview, we control for unobservable time-invariant characteristics that may influence the selection of project sites. The empirical results consistently indicate more widespread local corruption around active Chinese project sites. The effect is seemingly not driven by an increase in economic activity, but rather seems to signify that the Chinese presence impacts norms. Moreover, Chinese aid stands out from World Bank aid in this respect. In particular, whereas the results indicate that Chinese aid projects fuel local corruption but have no observable impact on short term local economic activity, they suggest that World Bank aid projects stimulate local economic activity without any consistent evidence of it fuelling local corruption.
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3. |
- Isaksson, Ann-Sofie, 1980, et al.
(author)
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The Gender Gap in African Political Participation: Testing Theories of Individual and Contextual Determinants
- 2014
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In: Journal of Development Studies. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0022-0388 .- 1743-9140. ; 50:2, s. 302-318
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article aims to test whether existing theories of what factors underlie the gender gap in political participation apply in an African context. Empirical estimations drawing on recent data covering over 27,000 respondents across 20 African emerging democracies suggest that whereas several of the investigated factors – structural differences in individual resource endowments and employment, and cultural differences based in religious affiliations – are found to be important determinants of participation, they explain only a very modest share of the observed gender gaps. Suggestive evidence instead points to the role of clientelism, restricted civil liberties, economic development and gender norms.
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4. |
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5. |
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6. |
- Finseraas, H., et al.
(author)
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The Gender Gap in Political Preferences: An Empirical Test of a Political Economy Explanation
- 2012
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In: Social Politics. - Oxford : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1072-4745 .- 1468-2893. ; 19:2, s. 219-242
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A womans labor market participation and risk of divorce are argued to be important explanatory factors for the gender gap in political preferences. We utilize a Norwegian data set which allows a rigid test of these arguments because it includes information on vote choice, preferences regarding child and elder care spending, and extensive information on the relationship with the current partner. We find a gender gap in political preferences, but no evidence that it can be explained by womens risk of divorce, while the impact of labor market participation is not robust across specifications. To some extent, the gender gap in voting is driven by unmarried women voting left.
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7. |
- Isaksson, Ann-Sofie, 1980, et al.
(author)
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Racing to the bottom? Chinese development projects and trade union involvement in Africa
- 2017
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Chinese firms operating in Africa are often accused of violating international labour standards and not adhering with national labour laws. Considering China’s tendency to maintain control over development projects throughout the entire implementation phase, using Chinese contractors for work performed in the recipient countries, the present paper investigates whether China impacts African labour practices in their capacity as a donor. Specifically, we use a new data material allowing for systematic quantitative analysis of Chinese development finance to investigate whether Chinese development projects affect trade union involvement. Matching geo-referenced data on the subnational allocation of Chinese development projects to Africa over the 2000-2012 period with 41,902 survey respondents across 18 African countries, our estimation strategy relies on comparing the trade union involvement of individuals who live near a site where a Chinese project is being implemented at the time of the interview to those of individuals living near a site where a Chinese project will appear in the future, but where implementation had yet to be initiated at the time of the survey. The results consistently indicate that Chinese development projects – unlike the projects of other major donors – discourage trade union involvement in the local area.
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8. |
- Isaksson, Ann-Sofie, 1980, et al.
(author)
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The Gender Gap in African Political Participation: Individual and contextual determinants
- 2012
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aim of this paper is to analyze the factors underlying the gender gap in African electoral and inter-electoral political participation. Drawing on new data covering over 27,000 respondents from 246 regions in 20 emerging African democracies, the empirical findings suggest that while there is a gender gap in both voting and inter-electoral participation, the latter is larger. Whereas several of the investigated individual and contextual characteristics are found to be important determinants of participation, they explain only a very modest share of the observed gender gaps. We do find, however, that gender gaps in education are negatively correlated with female inter-electoral participation and that gender gaps in employment are negatively related to female voting. Interestingly, and contrary to suggestions in previous research, there is no evidence that religiosity at the individual or community level increases the gender differences in political activity.
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9. |
- Jakobsson, Niklas, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Marriage: The Case of Scandinavia
- 2013
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In: Journal of Homosexuality. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0091-8369 .- 1540-3602. ; 60:9, s. 1349-1360
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to examine the variables that explain attitudes toward same-sex marriage. Using recently collected Scandinavian data (from Norway and Sweden) with a high response rate, this study shows that gender, regular participation in religious activities, political ideology, education, whether the respondent lived in the capital city, and attitudes toward gender equality were important for attitudes toward same-sex marriage. Age and income were not important for attitudes toward same-sex marriage. Although both Norwegians and Swedes clearly favor same-sex marriage, Swedes are significantly more positive than Norwegians.
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10. |
- Jakobsson, Niklas, et al.
(author)
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Do attitudes toward gender equality really differ between Norway and Sweden?
- 2009
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Using survey data from Norway and Sweden, we assess people’s attitudes towards gender equality. Previous studies argue that these attitudes are more egalitarian in Sweden than in Norway. Similar to previous research, we find that Swedes are more positive towards gender equality in general. However, we find no differences regarding views on egalitarian sharing of household responsibilities, and Norwegians are actually more supportive of government intervention to increase gender equality. This suggests that the lower support for gender equality in Norway is less robust than previously thought and that there is a larger scope for advancing the gender revolution in Norway via government policies than in Sweden.
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11. |
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12. |
- Jakobsson, Niklas, Docent, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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Does marriage affect men’s labor market outcomes? : A European perspective
- 2016
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In: Review of Economics of the Household. - New York : Springer. - 1569-5239 .- 1573-7152. ; 14:2, s. 373-389
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Does marriage make men more productive, or do more productive men marry? Previous studies have reached different conclusions but have also been conducted using different methodologies in different countries and in different time periods. We use two sources of European panel data (spanning the years 1994-2001 and 2003-2007) to assess the relationship between marriage and labor market outcomes. By using data from 12 countries over a 13 year period, we are able to investigate the impact of marriage in different country groups and across time. We find that selection into marriage accounts for most of the differences in hours worked and wages between married and non-married men. With respect to wages we note that while the difference between married and non-married males has increased over time, the actual effect of marriage has disappeared.
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14. |
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15. |
- Jakobsson, Niklas, et al.
(author)
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The Law and Economics of International Sex Slavery: Prostitution Laws and Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation
- 2010
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Trafficking in humans for sexual exploitation is an economic activity driven by profit motives. Laws regarding commercial sex influence the profitability of trafficking. Using cross country data we show that trafficking of persons for commercial sexual exploitation is least prevalent in countries where prostitution is illegal, most prevalent in countries where prostitution is legalized, and in between in those countries where prostitution is legal but procuring illegal. Case studies of countries that have changed legal framework support the claims on the direction of causality as well as the causal mechanisms. The results suggest that criminalizing buying and/or selling sex may reduce the amount of trafficking to a country.
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16. |
- Jakobsson, Niklas, et al.
(author)
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The law and economics of international sex slavery: prostitution laws and trafficking for sexual exploitation
- 2013
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In: European Journal of Law and Economics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0929-1261 .- 1572-9990. ; 35:1, s. 87-107
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- International trafficking in humans for sexual exploitation is an economic activity driven by profit motives. Laws regarding commercial sex influence the profitability of trafficking and may thus affect the inflow of trafficking to a country. Using two recent sources of European cross country data we show that trafficking of persons for commercial sexual exploitation (as proxied by the data sets we are using) is least prevalent in countries where prostitution is illegal, most prevalent in countries where prostitution is legalized, and in between in those countries where prostitution is legal but procuring illegal. Case studies of two countries (Norway and Sweden) that have criminalized buying sex support the possibility of a causal link from harsher prostitution laws to reduced trafficking. Although the data do not allow us to infer robust causal inference, the results suggest that criminalizing procuring, or going further and criminalizing buying and/or selling sex, may reduce the amount of trafficking to a country.
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17. |
- Jakobsson, Niklas, et al.
(author)
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Vellykket velferdsmodell
- 2009
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In: Klassekampen. ; :2009-09-22
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)
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18. |
- Jakobsson, Niklas, et al.
(author)
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What explains attitudes toward prostitution?
- 2009
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Using a larger and more representative sample than previous studies, we assess people?s attitudes toward prostitution in Norway and Sweden. Compared to previous statistical analyses in this field, the present study is the first to use sophisticated statistical methods that can shed further light on attitudes toward different aspects of prostitution while controlling for other confounding factors. The main findings are that men and sexual liberals are more positive toward prostitution, and that conservatives and those who support gender equality are more negative. Holding anti-immigration views is correlated with more positive attitudes toward buying, but not toward selling, sex. Norwegians are more positive than Swedes toward prostitution. It is also found that supporting gender equality has more explanatory power in Sweden than in Norway, and it is argued that this may be due to the more gendered nature of the Swedish debate.
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19. |
- Kotsadam, Andreas, 1980, et al.
(author)
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Do laws affect attitudes? : An assessment of the Norwegian Prostitution Law using Longitudinal Data
- 2011
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In: International Review of Law and Economics. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 0144-8188 .- 1873-6394. ; 31:2, s. 103-115
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The question of whether laws affect attitudes has inspired scholars across many disciplines, but empirical knowledge is sparse. Using longitudinal survey data from Norway and Sweden, collected before and after the implementation of a Norwegian law criminalizing the purchase of sexual services, we assess the short-run effects on attitudes using a difference-in-differences approach. In the general population, the law did not affect moral attitudes toward prostitution. However, in the Norwegian capital, where prostitution was more visible before the reform, the law made people more negative toward buying sex. This supports the claim that proximity and visibility are important factors for the internalization of legal norms.
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20. |
- Kotsadam, Andreas, 1980
(author)
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Effects of informal eldercare on female labor supply in different European welfare states
- 2009
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Using advanced panel data methods on ECHP (European Community Household Panel) data, female labor force participation at both the intensive and extensive margin is found to be negatively associated with informal caregiving to elderly. The effects of informal caregiving seem to be more negative in the Southern European countries, less negative in the Nordic countries, and in between these extremes in the Central European countries included in the study. That is, not only do women in some countries provide more care, the care they provide also has a stronger negative correlation with the probability of being employed and the number of hours worked. It is argued in this paper that a candidate explanation for the phenomenon of lower marginal effects in countries with more formal care and less pronounced gendered care norms has to do with the degree of coercion in the caring decision.
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21. |
- Kotsadam, Andreas, 1980
(author)
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Gender, Work, and Attitudes
- 2011
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Paper 1: The long term effect of own and spousal parental leave on mothers’ earnings We take advantage of the introduction of a Norwegian parental leave reform in 1993 to identify the causal effect of parental leave on mothers’ long-term earnings. The reform raised the total leave period by seven weeks, but reserved four weeks for the father. The reform process was fast, so all mothers were already pregnant at the time of the policy announcement. Applying a regression discontinuity design we find that women who had their last child immediately after the policy change had higher mean yearly earnings from 1995 to 2005 and long-run yearly earnings (in our last year of data in 2005) compared to women who had their last child immediately before the reform. However, the estimate is sensitive to extreme observations, to restrictions regarding eligibility, and to the exclusion of observations within a window of three days before and after the reform. Paper 2: Do laws affect attitudes? An assessment of the Norwegian prostitution law using longitudinal data (Forthcoming in International Review of Law and Economics) The question of whether laws affect attitudes has inspired scholars across many disciplines, but empirical knowledge is sparse. Using longitudinal survey data from Norway and Sweden, collected before and after the implementation of a Norwegian law criminalizing the purchase of sexual services, we assess the short-run effects on attitudes using a difference-indifferences approach. In the general population, the law did not affect moral attitudes toward prostitution. However, in the Norwegian capital, where prostitution was more visible before the reform, the law made people more negative toward buying sex. This supports the claim that proximity and visibility are important factors for the internalization of legal norms. Paper 3: Does informal eldercare impede women’s employment? The case of European welfare states (Forthcoming in Feminist Economics) European states vary in eldercare policies and in gendered norms of family care, and this study uses these variations to gain insight into the importance of macro-level factors for the work–care relationship. Using advanced panel data methods on European Community Household Panel (ECHP) data, this study finds women’s employment to be negatively associated with informal caregiving to the elderly across the European Union. The effects of informal caregiving seem to be more negative in the Southern European countries, less negative in the Nordic countries, and in between these extremes in the Central European countries included in the study. This study explains that since eldercare is a choice in countries with more formal care and less pronounced gendered care norms, the weaker impact of eldercare on women’s employment in these countries has to do with the degree of degree of coercion in the caring decision. Paper 4: The employment costs of caregiving in Norway Informal eldercare is an important pillar of modern welfare states and the ongoing demographic transition increases the demand for it while social trends reduce the supply. Substantial opportunity costs of informal eldercare in terms of forgone labor opportunities have been identified, yet the effects seem to differ substantially across states and there is a controversy on the effects in the Nordic welfare states. In this study, the effects of informal care on the probability of being employed, the number of hours worked, and wages in Norway are analyzed using data from the Life cOurse, Generation, and Gender (LOGG) survey. New and previously suggested instrumental variables are used to control for the potential endogeneity existing between informal care and employment-related outcomes. In total, being an informal caregiver in Norway is found to entail substantially less costs in terms of forgone formal employment opportunities than in non-Nordic welfare states.
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22. |
- Kotsadam, Andreas, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Shame on you, John! Laws, stigmatization, and the demand for sex
- 2014
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In: European Journal of Law and Economics. - : Springer. - 0929-1261 .- 1572-9990. ; 37:3, s. 393-404
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The present article contributes to the literature on prostitution by shedding light on the effects of the criminalization of buying sex on the amount of prostitution bought, as well as on the proposed theoretical mechanisms underlying this change. We find indications that criminalizing the buying of sex may decrease the quantity of sex bought. While we find that stigma influences the demand for sex, we do not find that stigma increases as a result of the law. Therefore, the possible reduced quantity of sex bought is probably due to the more direct risk of getting caught.
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23. |
- Kotsadam, Andreas, 1980, et al.
(author)
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The Effects of Gender Quotas in Latin American National Elections
- 2012
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This study investigates the effects of gender quotas in national elections on political participation, public policy, and corruption in Latin America. We are able to replicate the findings from previous research that women in politics do affect these outcomes, but only when we treat the number of women in parliament as exogenous. We argue, however, that the introduction of gender quotas caused an – in this context – exogenous increase in women’s representation, and while we find that quotas in Latin America increased the number of women in parliament, we find no substantial effects beyond mere representation. The mechanisms for these findings are scrutinized, and we find no indications that quota women are more marginalized than other elected women in Latin American parliaments. Hence, increasing women’s representation by means of gender quotas may not result in the same outcomes as an increased representation in non-quota elections.
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24. |
- Kotsadam, Andreas, 1980
(author)
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The employment costs of caregiving in Norway
- 2012
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In: International Journal of Health Care Finance & Economics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1389-6563 .- 1573-6962. ; 12:4, s. 269-283
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Informal eldercare is an important pillar of modern welfare states and the ongoing demographic transition increases the demand for it while social trends reduce the supply. Substantial opportunity costs of informal eldercare in terms of forgone labor opportunities have been identified, yet the effects seem to differ substantially across states and there is a controversy on the effects in the Nordic welfare states. In this study, the effects of informal care on the probability of being employed, the number of hours worked, and wages in Norway are analyzed using data from the Life cOurse, Generation, and Gender survey. New and previously suggested instrumental variables are used to control for the potential endogeneity existing between informal care and employment-related outcomes. In total, being an informal caregiver in Norway is found to entail substantially less costs in terms of forgone formal employment opportunities than in non-Nordic welfare states.
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25. |
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