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Item Restricted Maternal employment and child cognitive development in Cebu(2010-04) Galvez, Julio Miguel C.; Esguerra, EmmanuelThis study investigates the impact of maternal labor supply on child cognitive development in the province of Cebu. Compared to previous studies on the subject, this study makes a significant contribution to the literature by examining the effect of the location of the mother's work on her labor force participation decision, and consequently, on her child's development, as it reflects the different dynamic of labor force participation in developing countries like the Philippines. Using instrumental variables methods to control for the endogeneity of maternal labor supply, we find that while maternal employment may positively affect a child's cognitive outcomes, the location of the mother's employment exerts a more significant impact on her child's test scores. The results suggest that a mother who works at home contributes more to her child's development than a mother who works in the neighborhood or in the barangay, as taking work at home allows her to fulfill her dual roles of caregiving and co- breadwinning. On the other hand, a mother who has attained higher educational outcomes would do well to undertake formal market work, as the income that she receives enables her to· purchase high-quality substitutes for her child care, which will then create a positive impact on her child's development.Item Restricted How does maternal employment affect infant nutrition through breast feeding practices in Metro Cebu?(2010-04) Firmacion, Ladislao V. III; Supanco, Juan Rafael T.The prevalence of infant malnutrition remains to be a problem both globally and in the Philippines. Malnutrition prevalence rates remain high in developing countries and are leading causes of infant mortality in the poorest nations. At the same time, an increasing number of women, including mothers, have been participating in the labor force. This entails benefits and costs for mothers who have an important role to play in nourishing infants. This paper aims to study the effect of maternal employment on infant nutrition with emphasis on breastfeeding as the intermediate factor. Using data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutritional Survey, it is revealed that, for infants six months old and below, working mothers breastfeed more frequently and for longer durations than non-working mothers. However, increased working hours lead to less frequent breastfeeding and shorter breastfeeding durations. Working mothers also breastfeed less frequently in the long run. In tum, frequent and prolonged breastfeeding reduces the risk of malnutrition in the early stages of infancy but has either adverse or insignificant effects on nutrition in the late stages. This reveals how the importance of breastfeeding diminishes as the infant ages beyond six months. Therefore, it is suggested that mothers of young infants be encouraged to engage in part-time work while being guided with the proper exclusive breastfeeding and eventual weaning practices which can lead to better nutritional outcomes.