Abstract:  We investigate the effects of maternity and paternity leave on families and firms. Drawing on rich administrative data linking generations in Brazil and leveraging a policy reform that expanded parental leave, we evaluate the impacts on parents, their spouses, and children, as well as the broader consequences for firms. Our analysis spans labor market outcomes, fertility, health, and education, offering new evidence on the multifaceted effects of parental leave in a developing country context. We find that mothers eligible for extended leave experience a 6.33 p.p. increase in post-birth employment and a 56.63% rise in earnings, with no significant labor effects for fathers. Regarding fertility decisions, paternity leave accelerates subsequent births among fathers and their partners. Female spouses of treated fathers face a sharper, though temporary, child penalty that fades within two years. Despite the additional time spent with children, we find no evidence of mental health improvements for either parents or spouses. For children, the policy boosts early education enrollment by 11.57 p.p. and improves short-term health during the first 12 months of life. On the firm side, we find sharp contrasts between large and small employers. Large firms experience a modest decline in the share of female workers but an increase in women’s representation among top earners, driven primarily by childless women, suggesting a reallocation of career opportunities. Small firms, by contrast, face steep drops in female employment and earnings, reflecting their limited capacity to absorb the costs of extended leave. We further show that firms receiving fiscal compensation to offset the cost of the policy—through tax deductions—maintain or improve female employment, earnings shares, and representation in top positions. Those actively claiming these deductions not only avoid negative impacts but even show net gains for female participation and career advancement.

Abstract: What are the electoral consequences of major protests? This paper presents empirical evidence that the Brazilians cities that hosted demonstrations in the so called 2013 Brazilian Spring displayed different electoral outcomes the following year. Using a diff-in-diff approach, we were able to conduct an empirical study of panel data measuring the impact of those demonstrations in the 2014 elections. We observe that protests were related to political renewal, an increase in the electoral competitiveness, and an increased use of the institutional mechanisms for contesting an election. Also, we observe an increased rejection of candidates already known by the electorate, especially those attached to the Executive Branch, and those affiliated with the incumbent president’s party.