Robayo-Abril, MonicaRude, Britta2023-12-192023-12-192023-12-19https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/40765This paper uses the introduction of preparatory school classes targeting six-year-old children in Romania to study whether universal, compulsory, public care provision could increase female employment. Results from difference-in-difference estimations show that the reform resulted in rising employment rates for mothers of six-year-old children. The effect is lower for mothers living in households with elderly people, but larger for those facing stronger trade-offs prior to the reform. Overall, investing in universal, compulsory, public childcare is beneficial and could significantly increase female employment and labor force participation rates.enCC BY 3.0 IGOGOVERNMENT POLICYCHILDCAREECONOMICS OF GENDERPUBLIC POLICYTIME ALLOCATION AND LABOR SUPPLYWorking PaperWorld Bank10.1596/1813-9450-10638