This project addresses the critical need to understand parental leave policy designs across EU Member States, focusing on eligibility, synergies with early childhood education and care (ECEC), and measures encouraging men's engagement in informal care. It aims to overcome disparities in policy implementation and the persistent gender care gap by providing robust, comparable evidence. Our approach integrates a systematic literature review and national expert reports with advanced quantitative microdata simulations using EU-LFS and EU-SILC data. This includes replicating and enhancing previous eligibility estimations, conducting counterfactual analysis, and applying an intersectional lens to uncover complex patterns of disadvantage. The study will estimate the share of potential parents eligible for leave, identify synergies and gaps between national parental leave policies and ECEC, and examine policy design elements that encourage men's uptake of parental leave and shared caregiving. The results will be presented in a comprehensive synthesis report, EU and national factsheets, and thematic insights linked to the Gender Equality Index domains. This will deliver unique insights, enabling EIGE to provide Member States with concrete evidence on effective reforms and persistent gaps in coverage.
No results...