03. Journals

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These are journal articles published in World Bank journals as well as externally by World Bank authors.

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  • Publication
    Public Child Care Provision: Unraveling the Consequences of Implementation Variations for Women’s Time Allocation
    (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the World Bank, 2024-02-06) Mata, Catherine
    From analysis of the effects of a national childcare policy on women’s time allocation in Costa Rica, it is found that childcare services are associated with increased female labor force participation, greater educational enrollment, and reduced unpaid care work. However, a comparison of two implementing agencies indicates that the overall effects vary by agency. One agency’s services yield positive outcomes, such as increased labor force participation, reduced unpaid care work, and increased educational attendance; the other agency’s results are less favorable, particularly for part-time childcare users. These findings highlight the challenges governments face when scaling up interventions, as different implementing agencies may modify program criteria, serve distinct populations, and offer varying services. While policies can be effective on a smaller scale, impacts may differ when they are scaled up. Understanding these variations can help governments adapt policies and reallocate resources to achieve their intended goals.