A study by Dilnovoz Abdurazzakova (J-PAL) in Uzbekistan finds a 12% rise in female labour force participation attributable to the expansion of pre-schools between 2018 and 2022.
While traditional studies explain this phenomenon as the result of public childcare services freeing up time for mothers, the study suggests that, in Uzbekistan, mothers are entering the workforce in order to invest in, and afford the fees for, their children’s education.
Dilnovoz explains: “This aligns with our findings: The impact on women’s employment is strongest among families that place a high value on education.”