Motherhood and Income Inequality: A Cross-Country Analysis

Abstract

This paper attempts to analyze the gender wage gap in the United States and other economically developed nations. Despite a significant convergence of the income gap between men and women in the US, recent years have seen a lag in this convergence. This paper aims to specifically see the costs of motherhood on the occupational decisions of women, their career path, and the earning penalties as a result of children. I analyze government-mandated paid maternity leave and new parent protection rights and their impact on income inequality as well as their potential to lessen the gap.