RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Labor Market and Health Impacts of Reducing Cesarean Section Deliveries
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 1025-14609R2
DO 10.3368/jhr.1025-14609R2
A1 Miller, Sarah
A1 Persson, Petra
A1 Rossin-Slater, Maya
A1 Wherry, Laura R.
YR 2026
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2026/09/01/jhr.1025-14609R2.abstract
AB We study an intervention that reduced cesarean deliveries among low-risk first-time mothers, using California birth records linked to earnings data. Exposed mothers were 8% less likely to have a c-section, with no adverse health effects. We find suggestive evidence that they were more likely to return to their pre-birth employer and had higher within-firm earnings rankings in the quarter postbirth. These labor market gains fade over time. However, mothers who had a second child were less likely to have a c-section or preterm delivery, suggesting our estimated effects from avoiding a first c-section may be lower bounds on total gains.