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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PEACH (Parental Employment and Child Investments)

Teaser

Summary

Flexible working practices can help parents maintain work and family life balance that can lead to increased productivity and improved mental health and well-being. The project PEACH aimed to analyse the causal effect of flexible and non-standard working practices on both child and parental outcomes, by analysing a policy which allow individuals to relax full-time and standard hours commitment to their job.

Applying microeconometric methods, â€œJuggling Work and Family: The Effect of Flexibility on Mental Healthâ€ analyses the causal effect of flexible and non-standard working practices on parental mental health outcomes by looking at the UK Right to Request and Duty to Consider Flexible Working which allowed individuals to relax full-time and standard hours commitment to their job. The analysis uses different definitions of flexible work: reduction on the number of working hours, organization of working hours, and flexibility in working place. The study also considers spousal spillover effects. Results show a selection in the uptake of the type of flexible work among fathers and mothers, as well as differences in the own and spousal effects of flexible work on mental health.

The project has achieved most of its objectives and milestones for the period, with relatively minor deviations.

Work performed

The work plan of project PEACH was divided into 5 work packages. WP1 involved the familiarization of labour market trends and practices in Germany and the UK, particularly on policies regarding flexible work. WP2 an WP3 involved data management of the German Socio-economic Panel (GSOEP) and the British Household Panel Study (BHPS). WP4 is on training and analyses of econometric and policy evaluation techniques. WP5 involved the dissemination of results.

1.2.1 Work Package 1. Familiarization of labour market trends and practices in Germany and UK, particularly on policies regarding flexible work. Through an extensive reading of policies and related reports, coupled with delving into the datasets, I defined flexible working arrangements into: (1) change in the number of working hours, (2) change in the organization and structure of working hours, and (3) change in the place of work, which is hardly done in existing investigations. I also defined mental health using the 12-point General Health Questionnaire. The preliminary findings point to the differential take-up of flexible working arrangements by fathers and mothers, with heterogeneous effects on mental health. The results will prove particularly useful for policy-makers.

The main scientific and technological achievement lies in utilising sophisticated microeconometric tools to achieve causality. The contribution to the state of the art is found in own and spousal effects of flexible working arrangements, emphasizing the concept of intra-household bargaining, as well as spillover effects in the work and family domains of individuals.

1.2.2 Work package 2, 3. Data management of GSOEP and BHPS (and Understanding Society). I looked into longitudinal datasets and examined the take up of flexible work practices among parents and its effect on various child and parental outcomes. I also underwent training courses and went on a research visit at DIW Berlin.

1.2.3 Work package 4. Training and analyses of econometric and policy evaluation techniques. To further strengthen my microeconomietric skills, I took several training courses, not just on economic and policy evaluation techniques, but also Masterclasses and reading groups. A strong knowledge of various empirical tools and instruments are crucial, so I could incorporate and apply them into the analyses of the data.

1.2.4 Work package 5 Dissemination of results, including conferences, workshops, seminars, and meetings submissions and the elaboration of research papers for submission to journals. I participated in several international academic events and engaged with scholars.

Final results

Preliminary findings of the project points to different flexible working arrangements by men and women, as a result of being eligible to apply under the 2003 UK Flexible Working Act. While both are more likely to work from home, the women also reduce their working hours. Eligibility to flexible work also improves mental health, not to mention a spillover effect from the men to their wives by improving her job satisfaction. The results support evidence of household interactions and bargaining, and the joint interactions and determination of work and family life domains in determining the overall mental health.

The Marie Curie fellowship provided me with the opportunity to enlarge my research setting and consolidate my career through the following:
a. Expand my theoretical and empirical microeconometric skill sets by reinforcing existing and learning new skills. Through training courses at recognized state-of-the-art facilities, I was able to strengthen my skills in household and labour economics, as well as policy evaluation methods and microeconometric analyses.

b. Develop an independent research focus. With minimal supervision and a relatively unguided experience, I explored my own research questions and further honed in my already-independent academic trajectory. This renowned mobility fellowship strengthened my professional and personal qualities in terms of self-initiatives, individual creative thinking, self-motivation, and self-discipline, which are essential traits for a successful research career. The mobility program allowed me to tap into my extensive international network for external stimuli, which developed my communicative and critical skills through active engagement and meetings.

I also served as reviewer for several academic journals, which supported by research path. Additionally, I prepared project proposals on related research foci, which provide a pipeline for my future research path.

c. Network with different European countries. I was able to enrich interactions and collaborations not only among partner institutions, but also beyond, which broadened my research spectrum for future projects. The mobility of the fellowship immersed the research within an international environment that has provided valuable learning opportunities through hosting activities and memberships in organizations.

d. Provide professional and career development training.

I have participated in several trainings, not only to strengthen my technical skills, but also to enhance my personal growth. I have secured an assistant professor position at the Department of Economics, Econometrics and Finance of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

e. Impact of European knowledge based economy/society. The research on flexible working arrangement for work and family life balance is highly policy relevant for all European countries, not to mention interest parties such as non-government agencies.

I have been actively and consistently communicating and participating in international conferences, seminars, and workshops, and have continued to do so with the Fellowship. My participation in activities even after the fellowship has given me the opportunity to talk about flexible work and mental health with professionals from non-government agencies, and serve as expert discussant. It also opened opportunities for new collaborations with colleagues.