The Impact of Paid Maternity Leave on Maternal Health

We examine the impact of introduction paid maternity leave in Norway 1977 on maternal health medium and long term. Using administrative data combined with survey women around age 40, we find reform improved a range outcomes, including BMI, blood pressure, pain, mental health. The also increased health-promoting behaviors, such as exercise not smoking. effects were larger for first-time low-resource mothers who would have taken little unpaid absence reform. (JEL I12, J13, J16, J32)