Allocation parentale d'éducation et choix d'activité à temps partiel

The paper deals with the analysis of labour force participation choices among parents who are eligible to the French parental allowance (APE). The literature survey indicates that most analyses focus on the very important impact of the 1994 reform : extending the allowance to second-rank births, this reform withdrew many mothers from the labour market. By contrast, few studies dealt with the behaviour of claiming a reduced-rate allowance while still working part time. Our paper focuses on this topic. We try to identify the reasons inducing mothers choosing part time activity and receiving reduced-rate APE. Doing this, we intend to understand why so few mothers act this way. Our analyses successively model the part time work hours and the reduction of work time. They reveal four main factors: child care costs, the hourly wage rate of the mother, her economic sector and the availability of the husband. Classification JEL : D1, I38, J13, J22