The Growth in Full-Time Work Among Swedish Women in the 1980s

Abstract

Using panel data from the Swedish Labor Force Surveys, this article analyzes the shift from part-time to full-time work among Swedish women in the 1980s This change occurred among all groups of women Two main sources of the shift were found First, since 1983 more women have increased them hours from part time to full time than have reduced them Second, non-employed women have become more inclined to enter full- time rather than part-time work Expanded public childcare facilities are likely to have stimulatcd the rise in hours worked, especially among mothers of young school children The prolonging ot the parental teave period is found to have controbuted slightly to the growth in full-time work. while change, in the age-structure had no impact To account for the shift among all women, I point to the tax reform carried out in 1983 and the subsequent years in combination with a high level of labor demand Marginal tax rates for full-time workers were reduced and those tor part-time workers raised. while average taxes were raised slightlv