Québec’s family policy: An evaluation using regression discontinuity design

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Résumé (français)

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Résumé (anglais)

With an increasing number of families with both parents working, children are now spending more time in daycare. In 1997, Québec introduced its current family policy which promises every child under the age of 5 a space in low-fee daycare. The study evaluates the effects of the family policy on childcare use, maternal labour supply and a variety of family outcomes, including child behaviours, parenting styles and family functioning through a regression discontinuity design. findings show increases in childcare usage and maternal labour supply as well as improvements in child and family outcomes. Although outcomes are improving within Québec, previous studies show that child and family outcomes are declining relative to other provinces suggesting that Quebec’s outcomes are not improving as rapidly as the rest of Canada.