Job Market Paper

Labor Market Effects of Subsidized Childcare: Evidence from Early Head Start     (Job Market Paper)

This paper explores the labor market effects of Early Head Start (EHS), a federally funded, family-centered early childhood program serving more than 200,000 children under age three. EHS provides subsidized childcare when childcare constraints are most binding, yet there is no evidence on how it impacts household labor supply. Using a staggered rollout design and Current Population Survey data from 1988-2018, I find that EHS increases maternal labor supply, with significantly larger effects for low-educated mothers. Fathers' labor supply also rises, though the effect is smaller. Supply-side analysis reveals that EHS increases employment and wages in the childcare industry, with a modest increase in childcare costs for non-subsidized families. Overall, evidence suggests that EHS reduces the motherhood penalty and supports the childcare sector.

Works in Progress

Childcare Availability and Maternal Labor Supply: Evidence from Childcare Stabilization Grants

This paper explores the effect of increased childcare availability on maternal labor supply. It exploits quasi-random state level rollout of childcare stabilization grants to identify the causal effect on labor supply of mothers with under 5 year old children. Using monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) data, I find 4.7 percentage point increase in labor force participation rate only for mothers 35 years old or above. This \emph{novel} evidence is consistent with the literature which suggests that relatively older mothers are more likely to avail childcare services. Heterogeneity analysis shows that effect size is driven by mothers who are married and college degree holders, variables associated with higher household income. Finally, policy evaluation exercise shows that stabilization funding is efficient.

The Supply Side Effects of Subsidized Childcare: Evidence from Early Head Start

Preliminary Analysis Complete

The Long-Run Effects of Early Head Start on Criminal Behavior

Pre-Ph.D. Working Papers

Raza, B. (2021). Balance of Payments Constrained Growth in Pakistan-Implications for Development Policy (No. 107). State Bank of Pakistan, Research Department

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Raza, B., & Mughal, K. S. (2022). Fiscal Determinants of Inflation in Pakistan (No. 108). State Bank of Pakistan, Research Department.